Duffy Waldorf and Bubba Watson are determined to prove that there is more than one way to win the Chrysler Classic of Tucson.
Despite their contrasting styles, the tournament leaders have maintained a breakneck scoring pace that has defined this week's event at Omni Tucson National Golf Resort & Spa.
The veteran Waldorf holds a two-shot lead over the rookie Watson going into today's final round; both carded 7-under 65s on Saturday.
"The good news for me is I have to go out and play a really good round," said Waldorf, 43, whose last win came in 2000. "There's no holding on here."
Playing in near-perfect, windless conditions on a lush tract, 11 golfers finished 6 under or better on Saturday, led by Kirk Triplett's 8-under 64.
Saturday's scoring average of 69.347 was the lowest of the tournament.
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"It's like playing golf in a dome," said former Wildcat Ted Purdy, who shot a 65 to move into a tie for 17th.
First-round leader Mark Wilson is alone in third, trailing Waldorf by three strokes, while 2004 champion Heath Slocum is fourth, four behind.
"It's always kind of fun to play a course where you can shoot some low numbers," said Slocum, who had six birdies on the back nine to crawl into contention.
When asked what Slocum expected today, he quickly replied: "A good show."
Waldorf's bogey-free round threatened David Duval's 54-hole record of 196 at Tucson National. A 16-foot birdie putt at No. 18, which would have tied Duval's 1998 mark, curled just left of the hole.
Johnny Miller's tournament record of 25 under in 1975 could be in jeopardy. Waldorf already has matched last year's winning score of 19 under by Geoff Ogilvy, who will play in today's final of the Match Play Championship.
"I knew I had to keep pace," said Watson, who hit all 18 greens in regulation, and is trying to become the third straight first-time Tucson winner.
If history is any indication, the tournament will be won or lost at the 72nd hole.
The par-4 18th has traditionally ranked as one of the toughest finishing holes on tour. Water flanks each side of the fairway, a fact that has done little to faze the long-hitting Watson.
Through three rounds, Watson has driven over the pond on the right — about 320 yards — and played his second shot out of the rough between the first and 18th fairways, very nearly behind a huge grandstand.
"If I hit it in the fairway on 18, I messed up," the tall Georgian drawled. "With no rough, I believe I have the imagination to play from anywhere."
On Saturday, Watson smacked his drive 367 yards, leaving 126 to the pin using a pitching wedge.
By contrast, Waldorf drove 294 yards, then needed a 7-iron for the final 169 yards.
Both made par, and neither has birdied 18 this week.
"To get a short iron into that green is great, because it's such a difficult green," Waldorf said.
Waldorf's last 54-hole lead also came in the desert — at the 2002 Phoenix Open. He finished sixth after a final-round 73.
He has only played with Watson once, for five holes this year in a shootout event at Pebble Beach.
"It was hard to see the ball," Waldorf said of Watson's long drives. "… He's probably going to be 40 yards by me, so there's no chance to sneak up on him.
"But I think this course plays well for everybody. You can be a long hitter; you can be a short hitter," he added.
Watson, looking for his first tour victory in his sixth start, acknowledged there will be some nerves on the first tee.
"I'm thinking on Thursday about Sunday morning, if I could win, this is a good week for me," Watson said.
Today, "I'll be doing the same exact thing. It's human nature. And if you don't get nervous, then you don't really care. That's the way I look at it."
Third-round leaders
Duffy Waldorf 66-66-65—197 -19
Bubba Watson 67-67-65—199 -17
Mark Wilson 64-69-67—200 -16
Heath Slocum 67-69-65—201 -15
Gabriel Hjertstedt 66-71-65—202 -14
John Cook 68-69-65—202 -14
David Branshaw 71-65-66—202 -14
Jerry Kelly 66-68-68—202 -14
