DOHA — England's Chris Wood produced a spectacular display of golf to establish himself as a serious contender for the Qatar Masters at the Doha Golf Club Friday. Looking for his first victory since turning pro in 2008, the 25-year-old stroked a fluent 64 to carry a three-shot advantage over the trio of compatriot Simon Khan, Swede Alexander and New Zealander Michael Campbell into Saturday's final round. In near-perfect conditions, Wood, best known for his challenges at the 2008 and 2009 British Open, shot past the front nine in 31, consolidating his position with an eight foot eagle on the 548-yard tenth. The six foot five inch player then suffered a hiccup on the 12th, which he bogeyed, before picking up two more shots for a three-round aggregate of 13 under-par 201. Khan also put himself in the mix with a bogey-free 64 after finding himself in the 31st place at the halfway stage. The 2010 BMW PGA Championship winner at Wentworth actually held a two-shot lead by the time he was on the 13th hole but a string of five pars later coupled with Wood's charge saw end the day in joint third place. Sergio Garcia, who was part of a four-way tie with German Martin Kaymer, Australian Marcus Fraser and Portugal's Ricardo Santos, could only manage a 70 Friday thanks to bogeys on the 15th and 18th. His aggregate of 11-under par 205 sees him in joint third place with South African Brenden Grace who stroked a 67. Australian Fraser saw three bogeys ruin his round as he finished on 71 for an aggregate of 206. Santos, who had led after the first day, suffered a spectacular meltdown in the third round to blow his chances of winning for the second time on the European Tour. The 2012 Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year had four bogeys and two double bogeys as he finished the day on 76 which gave him an aggregate of 211, 10 shots off the pace. Snedeker, Choi share lead In San Diego, while most eyes were on six-time champion Tiger Woods as he briefly moved within a stroke of the lead at the Farmers Insurance Open Thursday, Brandt Snedeker launched his title defense in barnstorming style. Snedeker charged into a tie for the lead with South Korean K.J. Choi after carding a flawless seven-under-par 65 in the opening round. The fast-talking American birdied four of his first nine holes before picking up three more shots after the turn on the easier North Course, one of two layouts hosting the fourth PGA Tour event of the year. Choi birdied three of his last four holes on the tougher South layout to join Snedeker at seven under, while Woods, who got to six under after a storming seven-under run from the fifth to the 13th, finished bogey-par-bogey-par for a 68 on the South. Canadians Mike Weir and Adam Hadwin, who both started out on the North course, and Britain's Ross Fisher were among a group of eight players knotted on 66. Phil Mickelson struggled on the greens on the way to a level-par 72 on the easier North Course. — Agencies
