Golf-Sabbatini surges into lead at Quail Hollow

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, May 6 (Reuters) South African Rory Sabbatini made a brilliant birdie at the last to earn a one-shot lead over Tiger Woods after the third round at the Wachovia Championship yesterday.

And Sabbatini will not lack for motivation when he plays with Woods in the final round today, because he does not believe he got sufficient credit for winning last year's Nissan Open near Los Angeles.

''Some people said Tiger had withdrawn because he was sick,'' Sabbatini told reporters. ''He's here this week; best opportunity I've had to put any of that criticism or doubt aside. I'm looking forward to it.'' Sabbatini was speaking after a superb, bogey-free course record equalling eight-under-par 64 in benign conditions, intermittent light rain and hardly any wind at Quail Hollow.

He made a dream start with an eagle from 80 yards at the par-four first, and capped off his round with a 20-foot birdie at the demanding par-four 18th.

Sabbatini posted an 11-under 205 total, a score good enough to take the lead when Woods bogeyed the final two holes, while Fiji's Vijay Singh (69) and American Arron Oberholser (69) also finished poorly to fall two shots behind.

Woods pushed his drive into the rough at the last and had to almost tackle a photographer to prevent the snapper from treading on his ball.

DAMAGE LIMITATION The world number one then pulled a six-iron into the creek left of the green, but limited the damage to one dropped shot by getting up-and-down from 40 yards, sinking a six-footer in semi-darkness, the result of a two-hour morning weather delay.

''I couldn't see, so I was just guessing on that one,'' Woods said of his putt. ''I knew it was left-to-right, but I didn't know how much.'' He wanted to make it not just to save a shot, but also to get into the final today pairing with Sabbatini.

''It's nice to be in the last group to react, to see what's going on,'' he said. ''I know Rory is playing well right now, and I'm going to have to make some birdies tomorrow.'' Sabbatini, 31, has been in sizzling form recently, finishing equal second at the Masters and equal third at last week's Byron Nelson Championship.

''In the past I would definitely say I've been a streaky player,'' he said. ''This is a different feeling. I've been playing well and yet I still don't feel like I've been playing anywhere near my potential.

''I just managed to keep the ball in play and the rain slowing the greens just a touch made it a little easier to be a little aggressive with the putter.'' When he finished, it did not look like his score would be good enough to lead, but that was before so many others butchered the last.

Singh drove into the hazard and took off his shoes and socks to hit his second shot, eventually making bogey, while Oberholser had a double bogey after his second shot found the drink.

Phil Mickelson also dropped two shots to plunge four strokes from the lead.

REUTERS BJR VC0944