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The Loop

Roberts working overtime, looking for payoff

October 31, 2009

SONOMA, Calif. - Loren Roberts' chances of winning the season-long Charles Schwab Cup points competition and a $1 million annuity are looking good midway through the third round of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

Roberts helped his cause by shooting a 66 at Sonoma GC to climb to T-14 after shooting 70-73 the first two rounds. "I really went to work yesterday afternoon," Roberts said. "I was the last guy on the range, for a change. I played a lot better today and got off to a fast start [three consecutive birdies]."

But it's not just what Roberts, the current points leader, is doing but the fates of contenders Bernhard Langer, Jay Haas and Fred Funk that will determine the outcome.

Haas, who needs to win the tournament to have a chance, is currently in 17th place 11 shots behind leader John Cook. Funk is in 23rd place. Only Langer, currently in 10th spot in the tournament through 11 holes of his third round, is in any kind of position to threaten Roberts.

Langer is three shots out of second place at the moment. If Langer were to finish solo second Sunday, Roberts would need to finish ninth or better in order to win the yearly competition.

"I'm not going to relax," said Roberts. "I've just got to try to go out and shoot as low as I can tomorrow."

*-- Bill Fields *