Golf: Baird takes two-stroke lead

American Briny Baird covered his final seven holes in four-under par to break two strokes clear of a tightly bunched leader-board in the third round of the Frys.com Open. Bidding for his first PGA Tour title, the 39-year-old fired a superb seven-under 64 that left him two strokes ahead of three-time major winner Ernie Els, who carded a 67, and British world number 20 Paul Casey, who returned a 68. Tiger Woods briefly closed to within three strokes of the lead before losing momentum on the way to a 68, a distant nine strokes off the pace.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 10^th, 2011.