PERTH, Australia, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- South Africa's Retief Goosen smashed a 28-year-old European Tour record Saturday as he opened a 13-stroke lead in the third round of the Johnnie Walker Classic.
The U.S. Open champion and Europe's top money winner last season, Goosen shot a 9-under-par 63 on Saturday for a three-round total of 15-under 203. His 63 on the Lake Karrinyup course broke the European Tour record set by Tony Jacklin of England in 1974.
Ernie Els of South Africa and world No. 4 Sergio Garcia of Spain are next best at 2-under. Els fired a 71 and Garcia a 72 on Saturday.
Goosen bounced back after bogeys on two of the last three holes in a second-round 68 on Friday. A pitch to within a foot of the flag on the first hole set the tone, and he added three more birdies for a 32 on the front nine.
Goosen two-putted the long No. 11 for another birdie, struck a six-iron to 10 feet on the 421-yard 13th hole and a wedge to 18 inches at the next hole before rolling in a 20-foot putt at the 531-yard 15th.
The 18th was mere icing and left the rest of the field rubbing their eyes in disbelief.
"Hell's bells," said Nick Faldo, who shot a 74 Saturday and is 2-over. "The way it's blown two or three under today would have been a great round, but 9-under is not fair, not golf, not sport. He is just swinging it, hitting it and holing it not thinking about the wind or the bounce."
Anthony Wall bogeyed two of his last three holes for a 69 and shares fourth place with fellow Englishman Simon Dyson. Wall was among those impressed with Goosen.
"Retief is just playing a different game," Wall said. "I think everybody has always known he is good, but I think he is in a different league. He's showing his true class. He was always the man waiting to come through and he has done it."
England's Lee Westwood managed only a 76 to be tied for 39th at 6-over.
