ESPN.com - Golf Online - PGA Championship 2000 - Major mark: Olazabal shoots 63

Associated Press
Saturday, August 19

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Jose Maria Olazabal moved into contention in the PGA Championship in spectacular fashion Saturday with a 9-under 63, tying the lowest score ever in a major champion.


	Jose Maria Olazabal had nine birdies and nine pars on Saturday.

Olazabal, even par to start the third round at Valhalla Golf Club and 11 strokes behind Tiger Woods, had a chance to break the record until his approach into the par-5 18th landed on the wrong side of a ridge and he two-putted from about 35 feet for par.

The two-time Masters champion is the 19th player to record a 63 in a major, and the first since Greg Norman in the first round of the 1996 Masters.

The last player to shoot 63 in the PGA was Brad Faxon, in the final round at Riviera in 1995.

More than tying a record, however, Olazabal gave himself a chance to win the PGA Championship. He finished at 9-under 207, and was four strokes back of Tiger Woods, who was working his way toward the back nine.

Olazabal made his move on a course that was ripe for low scoring -- only moderate heat, greens that held well-struck shots and only a trace of breeze.

"I was really pleased with today's round," he said. "They key today was I gave myself a lot of chances. I hit a lot of great iron shots and hit the ball close to the hole."

Even more impressive about the 34-year-old Spaniard's round was that he failed to birdie two of the par 5s at Valhalla, including the 18th. He nearly got to 10 under for his round on the 17th, with a 15-foot birdie but that somehow steered right of the cup at the last turn.

"I thought I had it," Olazabal said. "It was very, very close."

While Valhalla was yielding low scores, the 63 was still somewhat of a surprise coming from Olazabal. He opened with a 76 and was trying Friday only to make the cut. And last week in the Buick Open, he had an 81, his worst score of the year.

Olazabal has won one tournament this year, the Benson & Hedges International on the European tour. He has become increasingly frustrated in Europe, claiming tour officials are promoting Colin Montgomerie and other British players while virtually ignoring a man who has won two majors.

Olazabal is leaning toward playing a full schedule in America next year.