Tiger, Rock share lead in Abu Dhabi

Golf Betting Lines

01/28/2012 - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tiger Woods and Robert Rock posted matching rounds of six-under 66 Saturday to move atop the leaderboard after three rounds of the Abu Dhabi Championship.

The duo ended 54 holes at 11-under-par 205. They share a two-stroke lead over four players.

Woods, who is playing this event for the first time, posted his best round since round two of last year's Masters, where he also shot 66.

Rock, who has a pair of top-15 finishes already this season on the European Tour, is aiming for his second tour title. He won the Italian Open last year.

Peter Hanson, who shared second at this event in 2007, had the low round of the week as he fired an eight-under 64 to jump into a share of third at minus- nine. He was joined there by former British Open champion Paul Lawrie (68), Francesco Molinari (66) and reigning U.S. Open champ Rory McIlroy (68).

Second-round leader Thorbjorn Olesen managed a one-under 71 and dipped into a four-way tie for seventh at eight-under-par 208 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Woods and Rock broke through a large pack of players to share the lead. At one point in the third round, there were eight players tied atop the leaderboard. At another juncture, there were five leaders.

However, it was Woods, who had a bogey-free round, and Rock, who birdied the final two holes, that broke through the crowded leaderboard.

Woods drained a 10-footer for birdie at the first. After five straight pars, he sank a six-footer for birdie on the par-three seventh to again get within one of the lead.

Around the turn, Woods made his charge. He two-putted for birdie on the par- five 10th to grab a piece of the lead at minus-eight.

Woods drained a seven-foot birdie try on the 12th to join Lawrie at nine- under, then poured in a 25-footer for birdie at 14 to take the lead by himself for the first time.

After two-putting for par on the next three holes, Woods found the green with his second to the par-five 18th. He lagged his eagle putt within three feet and knocked that in a for a closing birdie.

"I was just kind of consistent. I didn't do a whole lot wrong, I didn't do a whole lot right," Woods stated. "Six birdies piled up, but I was methodically going about my business and grinding. This course is playing difficult enough. You can make birdies, but you can go the wrong way quickly. I've still got to post a good number."

Woods hasn't won on the European Tour since he claimed the 2009 JBWere Masters, his last official win anywhere since the turmoil of his car accident and divorce that started shortly after that victory.

Rock, who was one group behind Woods, also had a pair of birdies on the front nine, with his coming on the third and seventh.

The Englishman birdied the 10th and 12th to move into a share of the lead at minus-nine. He converted a birdie chance on No. 14 to match Woods at 10-under.

However, Rock stumbled to a bogey on the par-four 16th, a hole that he also bogeyed in the first round. He fought back with birdies on the final two holes, both from inside eight feet, to join Woods atop the leaderboard.

"I've played some pretty good golf the last few days, so I'm more than happy," Rock said. "I holed a lot (of putts), and I nearly holed two long ones at the end. I just kept trying to hit them all the same, and that worked alright."

Olesen was joined in seventh place by James Kingston (67), George Coetzee (65) and Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (69).

NOTES: Woods, who has 37 European Tour titles, hasn't won in the Persian Gulf region since claiming the 2008 Dubai Desert Classic...Fifty-nine of the 69 players that made the cut shot par or better on Saturday.

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In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South.  Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC.  The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game.  For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft.  Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.

1. New Orleans Saints
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Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami

2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season.  With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round.  LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems.  If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.

Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU

3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season.  The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach.  The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub.  High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career.  With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson. 

Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
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4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season.  The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age.  It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot.  This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.

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It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season.  On the clock: the NFC North

Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
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Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2    

Odds to win the NFC:
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Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1

Odds to win the Super Bowl:
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Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1

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