Golf: Garrido takes Open by storm

Spaniard Ignacio Garrido, the son of the former Ryder Cup stalwart Antonio, takes a five-shot lead into the German Open final round after defying the elements yesterday to set up his first European Tour victory.

Garrido, in his fourth year on the Tour, birdied three of the first four holes in driving rain to build his lead after starting two shots ahead of the field. His four-under-par third round 67 carried him to a 14-under- par 199 total.

The 22-year-old Englishman Brian Davis shot the best round of the day, a 66, to move up to joint-second on 204 with veteran compatriot Mark James, 21 years his senior. James shot a 69. Norway's Per Haugsrud and another Englishman, Barry Lane, are trailing on 206.

After three second places, one of them in March in the Portuguese Open, Garrido is on the brink of his first European success. He scattered the field with his fiery start on Saturday, making light of the heavy rain with birdies at the par-five first and fourth holes and ramming in a 35- footer at the second to pick up another stroke.

"I thought I was going to be much more nervous than I was at the start," said the 25-year-old Spaniard. "But the birdies calmed my nerves and built up my confidence. In the conditions, I told myself to just be patient and keep the clubs dry.

"When you've been up there a few times you're less nervous... and last week's win helped on that score. I hope today will now help me in the final round.

"If I have a disaster and shoot 85 it will not matter because this is all part of a learning process."

If Garrido wins and picks up the $116,000 first prize, he could jump 20 places in the European Ryder Cup table from 33rd and set up the chance of becoming the second son of a Ryder Cup father after England's Percy and Peter Alliss.