Double-Eagle Fires Nicklaus in Tradition

That rarest of golf fowl, a double-eagle, propelled Jack Nicklaus into contention Saturday in the third round of The Tradition, the Senior PGA Tour’s first major tournament of the season.

Nicklaus, who finished with a 65, was four under par at the turn, birdied the 11th hole then gobbled up Hale Irwin’s lead with two monstrous shots on the 12th hole of the Cochise Course in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Nicklaus’ 340-yard drive on the short par-five hole rolled to the bottom of the fairway, leaving 159 yards to the flag. He hit an eight-iron onto the front of the green and then the ball rolled in for his third double-eagle, his first since 1965.

He finished the day at 207, nine under par and one shot behind Irwin. Raymond Floyd is at 208, and the three will play together today in the final group.

Nicklaus had to calm down a bit after the 12th hole.

“I get very excited about shots like that; that’s why you play,” he said. “You’ve got to collect yourself and keep playing, not make any dumb mistakes, and give yourself some more chances. I only made one more birdie [on No. 18], but I didn’t make any mistakes.”

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The final round of the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta looks like a mini-version of the state’s most bitter rivalry.

David Duval, who played college golf at Georgia Tech, shot a four-under-par 68 and has a 10-under 206 total for a two-shot lead over former Georgia golfer Tommy Tolles after three rounds of the tournament at the Atlanta Country Club.

Tolles shot a 69 that was accompanied by barking from Georgia Bulldog fans.

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Annika Sorenstam lost a stroke to par, Barb Mucha shot a two-under 69 and Cindy Schreyer a three-under 68, and the three are tied for the lead after three rounds of the Twelve Bridges LPGA Classic in Lincoln, Calif.

Sorenstam had led after two rounds, but slipped to a 72 and stands at 207.

The leaders are only one shot ahead of Val Skinner, Meg Mallon and Tracy Kerdyk.