Golf: The Big Sneezy

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Mar 2, 2008 | by GRAHAM OTWAY

BRIAN DAVIS last night went in search of his first win on the US Tour fearing that a sneezing fit could wreck his chances.

The 33-year-old Londoner took a one-shot lead going into the third round of Honda Classic at Palm Beach in Florida still suffering from the last time he had one.

That was in November during a tournament at Disneyland and Davis injured his neck so badly he was forced to take two months off.

Davis recalled: "I'd had a back problem earlier in the year, and and had started having pains in my neck.

"Then one morning, I had just got up.

"I sneezed and I just heard the neck pop - I had herniated two discs in my neck.

"Unfortunately, it's turned out to be quite a long road back.

"I would probably say I'm still only about 80 per cent strength now, but it still niggles a little bit.

"The problem is hitting the ball hard all the time puts a strain on me - I am not a long hitter, so for me I need everything."

Despite sometimes only being able to hit the ball around 250 yards off the tee Davis at one stage held a three shot lead over the Honda field.

But at the par three seventh he ran up a double bogey after finding a poor lie by the green.

However, as he signed for a three under par 67 to follow his opening five under 65 Davis was at least in a much healthier position than his fellow Englishman Luke Donald.

The Ryder Cup star had led on Thursday after opening with a 64, his lowest round in the States for more than a year.

But he dropped back to six shots off the pace after running up a quadruple bogey en route to a 74.

PHILLIP ARCHER will today go hunting his first victory on the European Tour at the Johnnie Walker Classic in New Delhi. The 35- year from Warrington soared up the leaderboard with a run of four birdies to five holes midway through his third round.

He will set off today, alongside countryman Graeme Storm in fourth place at 11 under par just three shots adrift off the joint leaders New Zealand's Mark Brown and Japan's Taichiro Kiyota.

One player who will not be taking part, though, is little known Indian Gaurav Ghei after he was disqualified in controversial circumstances.

He moved into contention with a seven under par 65 yesterday, only to be told after his round that a European Tour official, watching on TV back in England, had spotted a rules infringement during his second round on Friday.