Ogilvy storms back to tie Wetterich

Another gusty day at the Honda Classic made the golfers' loud trousers ripple. Geoff Ogilvy kept calm in the wind, fortified by winning his first PGA Tour title just two weeks ago.

The Australian mounted a charge in difficult conditions Saturday in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., erasing an eight-shot deficit to tie Brett Wetterich for the lead after three rounds. While none of the players among the top eight at the start of the day broke par, Ogilvy shot an 8-under 64 to reach 12 under after 54 holes.

"I just kept hitting nice shots and getting good putts," he said. "Maybe six months ago, sneaking right up the leaderboard deep on Saturday, I might have gotten a bit more nervous than I did. I was nothing but comfortable."

Ogilvy won at Tucson, his first title in 108 tour starts, then took last week off.

"Everyone congratulating you on your first week back is quite nice," he said. "You don't get tired of that. . . . There's a big psychological boost to winning a tournament. It makes you believe you're a better player, I think."

Five golfers among the top 10 on the leaderboard will bid for their first tour title today. That includes Wetterich, who began the third round alone in the lead, scrambled to a 72 and joined Ogilvy at 204.

Two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen three-putted No. 18 for a bogey to fall out of a three-way tie for the lead. A round of 72 left him 11 under and tied with Pat Perez.

"At the start of the week, all you want to do is have a chance on Sunday," Janzen said. He's seeking his first title since winning the Open in 1998.

Perez, a fourth-year tour veteran seeking his first win, shot 67.

With gusty conditions and the elevated greens firmer than in the first two rounds, bogeys became more frequent on the long Country Club at Mirasol course. But the wind it failed to faze Ogilvy.

Shrugging off a first-round 73, he began to surge Saturday when he birdied four of the first six holes. He also finished with a flourish, sinking birdie putts on Nos. 17 and 18. Ogilvy missed only three greens and needed just 26 putts.

Two shots behind was American Joe Ogilvie, who reached 10 under with a 67 and was poised to create considerable confusion in the final round.