Australian rookie Buckle happy to miss Tiger grouping

SAN DIEGO, Jan 28 (Reuters) PGA Tour rookie Andrew Buckle of Australia was relieved to hear he would not play with Tiger Woods in today's final round at the Buick Invitational.

Buckle, who fired a four-under-par 68 at Torrey Pines yesterday, will partner Americans Brandt Snedeker and Kevin Sutherland on the last day with Woods teeing off one group in front.

''I think I would have been pretty nervous,'' the 24-year-old from Queensland told reporters after joining Snedeker in a tie for the lead at 11-under 205.

''It would have been good fun to play with him, just to see how he handles everything and how he goes about it, just to learn from him.

''But it was pretty nerve-wracking out there today so I am kind of relieved, I guess.'' Had Sutherland not birdied the final hole for a 70 to secure third place at 10 under, world number one Woods would have played in the final group with Buckle and Snedeker.

Like Buckle, Snedeker was delighted the four-times champion would tee off ahead of them in the final round.

''I need to send him (Sutherland) a thank-you note,'' the Nationwide Tour graduate joked after carding a 74. ''That's very nice of him.

''No matter what anyone says, I would love to play in the last group with Tiger but, as a rookie, I'm kind of glad the way it worked out. I like it a lot.

FRONT SEAT ''I've never witnessed him hit a golf ball in a tournament before so I'm just going to enjoy it. I get a front row seat to watch the best player in the world playing right in front of me.'' Buckle has happy memories of the coastal South Course at Torrey Pines, having won the world junior title there in the 15-17 age group in 1999 and 2000.

''I remember the last day both years, it was good fun to be in contention as an overseas player,'' he said.

''It was kind of a big deal when you're that age, I guess.

Good memories, that's for sure.

''But it's changed a bit since last time I was here,'' added Buckle, who qualified for the 2007 PGA Tour by finishing 13th on last year's Nationwide Tour money list.

''The course is a lot longer and they have moved a lot of greens towards the cliff.'' Buckle, who birdied the par-five last on Saturday to join Snedeker at the top of the leaderboard, is looking forward to playing the final round with his Nationwide Tour friend.

''It will be fun,'' he said.

''Brandt is a good fellow and he's a hell of a player. We played quite a bit last year, so it will be fun.'' REUTERS DH RN0636