Vegas and Laird Co-Favourites Heading to the Final 18 at the Bob Hope

Jhonattan Vegas trailed Gary Woodland by two when Woodland finished his fourth round then the man from Venezuela went on to birdie his final two holes to tie his fellow Tour rookie for the lead heading to the final round at the Bob Hope Classic.

Vegas is now the co-favourite with Martin Laird, who inexplicably finds the top of the betting board again, and both will head to Sunday at (10-3).

Vegas had a birdie-or-bust kind of day as he made just 4 pars on his way to a 10 birdie, 4 bogey 66 tying Woodland at 24-under

This rookie hasn’t shot a round higher than 67 this week and appears to be almost unflappable playing against the world’s best.  He really has as good a shot as anyone on Sunday.

Laird, on the other hand, is still not a player who anyone should consider a real threat down the stretch.  He’s two back and didn’t look to have any sort of dialled in, killer instinct on Saturday.

Unlike the young guns, he doesn’t have the ‘doesn’t know any better’ factor and was horrid in final rounds in 2010.

Take him if going out on a limb is the choice, but really the value isn’t there for it be a realistic consideration.

Just behind the co-favourites is co-leader Gary Woodland who rode a very clean 66 to a tie for the lead and he’ll battle Vegas, and the field, as both go for their first win on the PGA Tour.

The native of Topeka, Kansas, made his only bogey of the day early on the par-3 3rd hole and then rattled off 5 birdies and an eagle to surge to the top of the leaderboard.

From a ‘feeling’ point of view, Woodland has looked cool under the pressure of the PGA Tour’s big ‘lights’ and, much like Vegas, hasn’t blinked yet so there’s no reason to believe he’ll crumble in round five.

From the land of long-ish odds.  Matt Kuchar described his round as “treading water” as he didn’t make up much ground on the leaders with a 66.

Regardless, he’s the grizzled vet of those at or near the top.  A quick start and he just might force the young bucks he’s chasing into some mistakes.

If I'm on the course and lightning starts, I get inside fast. If God wants to play through, let him  - Bob Hope