GOLF ROUNDUP : Love Ready to Hit Jackpot With Six-Shot Lead After 65

Davis Love III pulled away to a six-stroke lead in the Las Vegas Invitational on Saturday, with a seven-under-par 65 in the fourth round of the 90-hole event.

“He’ll be awfully hard to catch,” said Bob Estes, Love’s closest pursuer. “You know he’s going to make some birdies, because some of the par fives play like par fours for him.”

Love hit a seven-iron second shot to one of the par fives, and used five-irons on two others. He played those holes with two birdies and an eagle on his way to a 72-hole total of 265, 23 under par.

If he can hold his lead, Love will pick up the $252,000 first prize.

“You have to take them when you can get them,” Love said. “I’m driving the ball well, hitting my irons well and putting well. If I can just drive the ball in the fairway tomorrow, hit the ball like I did today, I’ll be OK.”

Estes, a non-winner who has finished second and fourth in his last two starts, had a 67 and was second at 271.

Canadian Richard Zokol shot 69 at the TPC at Summerlin and was alone in third place at 272.

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Corey Pavin, his opponent agitated by picture-taking fans, advanced to the final of the World Match Play Championship at Virginia Water, England, against defending champion Nick Faldo.

Pavin, seeking to become the first American to win this event since Bill Rogers in 1979, blew a three-hole lead before sinking a three-foot par putt on the 37th hole to beat Colin Montgomerie of Scotland.

Faldo, who routed Jeff Sluman, 8 and 7, to win last year’s title, defeated David Frost, 2 and 1, in the other semifinal.

Montgomerie complained about spectators’ cameras and umbrellas, and his frustration became more evident when he slammed his ball after bogeying the 19th.

“(There were) a lot of distractions, a lot of flash cameras, which is ridiculous on a golf course,” Montgomerie said. “One out of three people out there had a camera. You don’t realize how it puts you off and how it affects players.”