VIRGINIA WATER, May 28 (Reuters) – Little-known Paraguayan Fabrizio Zanotti reeled off a PGA Championship record seven consecutive threes in Saturday’s third round to ignite his hopes of a first European Tour win.

Zanotti ended the day in joint third place with world number one Lee Westwood after a two-under 69 earned a three-under total of 210, two strokes behind joint leaders Matteo Manassero of Italy and Briton Luke Donald.

The South American’s record run from the eighth hole contained five birdies and came after he had dropped four strokes in the first seven holes.

“I started terribly but on eight the putter began working. Luckily I stayed focused and after the eighth I was more calm,” Zanotti told Reuters behind the giant 18th grandstand as spots of rain began to fall at the European Tour’s flagship event.

Playing partner Bradley Dredge, who shot a 69 for 211, said the Paraguayan had no idea he was on for a record.

“He didn’t realise until I pointed it out to him and the scorers. It was an amazing run, especially around this tough course. He played fantastically well and it was a pleasure to watch,” the Briton told Reuters.

STAY CALM

VIRGINIA WATER, England (Reuters) – Seve Ballesteros would have enjoyed the outpouring of support in his honor at the PGA Championship on Friday, joint leader Alvaro Quiros said.

Players and spectators wore navy blue and white, Ballesteros’s favorite colors, for the second round of the European Tour’s flagship event at Wentworth in memory of the Spaniard who died this month after a long battle with cancer.

“It’s a shame because I would have liked to see Seve’s reaction, seeing all the players dressed in his Sunday gear,” world number 25 Quiros told Reuters after another typically exciting round that left him in a share for the lead.

“For me it’s a shame we’re supporting this initiative when Seve is already dead. But of course it’s also a lovely way of showing our support.

“It all shows you how big Seve was,” he added, reflecting on the sea of white and blue around the West Course which Ballesteros tamed 20 years ago to win the same event.

Quiros closed with three birdies for a 67 to leave him six-under-par, and he said the Seve tribute outfit could make another appearance over the weekend.

“I’d like to throw on the navy blue and white on Sunday,” he said. “If I’m leading then for sure I’ll wear blue and white. If not then we’ll see.”

VIRGINIA WATER, England (Reuters) – British trio Ian Poulter, Paul Casey and Luke Donald were critical of the Ernie Els-inspired redesign of the West Course at Wentworth on Friday.

Poulter said “it’s not fun” to play the PGA Championship venue, playing partner Casey described it as “a grind” and joint second-round leader Donald explained that “some holes were slightly too severe.”

“I’ve loved this golf course from a kid but I don’t seem to get the best out of it,” world number 14 Poulter told reporters after carding a three-over 74 to lie six strokes off the pace on level-par 142.

“It’s turning into a very difficult golf course and I’ve got to say it’s not fun.”

The 35-year-old Englishman said his double-bogey seven at the last left a sour taste in his mouth.

“I hit what I thought was a perfect third shot, it was maybe caught out a tiny bit by the wind, and it pitched by the green and finished in the hazard. Marvellous,” Poulter said in a comment laced with irony.

“Some of the fun of the last few holes, I think, has been taken away. That’s the redesign, that’s what they want and they got what they wanted.”

VIRGINIA WATER, England (Reuters) – Golf’s other Seve, little-known Briton Seve Benson, saluted the Spanish great after a tribute day was held for the five-times major winner at the PGA Championship Friday.

Ballesteros, who regularly thrilled crowds during his heyday in the 1970s and 80s by escaping from almost impossible positions, died at the age of 54 earlier this month after a long battle with brain cancer.

Players and spectators wore navy blue and white, Ballesteros’s favorite outfit, for the second round of the European Tour’s flagship event at Wentworth in memory of the Spaniard.

“Today was a great tribute to him. It was the least we could do. He was a great man and he did so much for European golf,” world number 822 Benson told Reuters.

Asked if he received cheers from the crowds because of his name, Benson said he had not played many miraculous recovery shots in the style of Ballesteros.

“I wasn’t in the trees enough,” joked the 24-year-old Englishman, adding that people often misspell his name.

“I get called Steve most of the time,” he said, striding off to answer calls of ‘Give us your hat’ from young fans after shooting a second-round 72 for 146, four over.

VIRGINIA WATER, England (Reuters) – Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen failed to cope with a fiendishly difficult West Course and unseasonably cool weather when both major winners missed the cut at the PGA Championship on Friday.

As the two South African friends reflected on shortened outings, their respective caddies popped the hand warmers they had been using at Wentworth back in their bags.

“Yesterday was by far the worst weather I’ve played in this year,” Oosthuizen told Reuters after a second-round 74 in more benign but nonetheless cold conditions on Friday left him on eight-over-par 150.

“I know Charl doesn’t like being very cold and it was quite chilly this morning.

“But I’m also not swinging it well. I won’t blame the weather or anything,” he said giving the same bashful grin he wore at St Andrews last year after a commanding seven-shot victory at the British Open.

Schwartzel, who was on cloud nine last month after a spectacular back-nine run earned him the coveted U.S. Masters green jacket, found the outlook decidedly gloomier at the European Tour’s flagship event.

“It’s never nice to play badly. I prefer to put this behind me and go and win next week,” the 26-year-old told Reuters having said his hands had almost turned purple early on Friday.

VIRGINIA WATER, England (Reuters) – Britain’s Luke Donald said he felt “invincible” after a seven-under 64 gave him the first-round lead while several golfing heavyweights laboured on a torrid day for scoring in the PGA Championship Thursday.

The world number two opened up a two-stroke advantage over Swede Johan Edfors and 18-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero. Oscar Floren, four-under through 14 holes, was in fourth position when play was halted because of bad light.

Swede Floren and 14 other players must return Friday morning to finish off their rounds after play had been suspended for 36 minutes when a crack of thunder was heard over the iconic West Course at Wentworth.

Donald, one of the early starters, said he realised he was in top form from the moment he hit a sweet approach shot through a stiff breeze at the first hole.

“I guess you feel a little bit invincible. Everything is positive around you,” the Englishman told reporters after equalling his lowest round on the European Tour.

“That was probably one of the best rounds I’ve ever played,” added Donald who has finished in the top 10 in all but one of the nine events he has played this season on the U.S. and European circuits.

Britons Ian Poulter, Ross McGowan and Bradley Dredge posted 68s along with Spain’s Jose Manuel Lara while Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke plus long-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros were among a group of players on 69.

VIRGINIA WATER, England, May 26 (Reuters) – Twice U.S. Masters winner and 2012 European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal pulled out of the PGA Championship on Thursday because of a back injury.

The 45-year-old Spaniard was five-over-par through seven holes when he was forced to withdraw from the Wentworth event.

“This is the European Tour’s flagship event, a huge field, a place I love, but unfortunately I couldn’t keep on playing,” Olazabal told reporters.

“They (the physios) can’t really figure out what the problem is at the moment. I’m going to get a scan and some treatment done and see if we can get some more information.”

Olazabal said the injury first flared up on the practice range.

“I started hitting balls before teeing off. I started feeling it with the three-wood and then hit a few drivers and it got a little worse,” he explained.

“Obviously it didn’t get any better as we kept on playing.”

VIRGINIA WATER, England, May 26 (Reuters) – Twice U.S. Masters winner and 2012 European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal pulled out of the PGA Championship on Thursday because of a back injury.

The 45-year-old Spaniard was five-over-par through seven holes when he was forced to withdraw from the Wentworth event.

“This is the European Tour’s flagship event, a huge field, a place I love, but unfortunately I couldn’t keep on playing,” Olazabal told reporters.

“They (the physios) can’t really figure out what the problem is at the moment. I’m going to get a scan and some treatment done and see if we can get some more information.”

Olazabal said the injury first flared up on the practice range.

“I started hitting balls before teeing off. I started feeling it with the three-wood and then hit a few drivers and it got a little worse,” he explained.

“Obviously it didn’t get any better as we kept on playing.”

VIRGINIA WATER, England (Reuters) – World number two Luke Donald said he felt “invincible” after a seven-under-par 64 gave him the lead midway through the first round of the PGA Championship at Wentworth on Thursday.

The Briton opened up a two-stroke lead over 18-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero, whose 66 included birdies at three of the four par-threes, while Briton Ross McGowan carded a 68 and veteran Colin Montgomerie was among a host of players on 69.

World number one Lee Westwood, under pressure to retain top spot from Donald and third-ranked German Martin Kaymer, shot a 72 in damp and blustery conditions which made good scoring difficult at the European Tour’s flagship event.

Donald realized he was in top form the moment he hit his approach at the first hole, saying he knew it was going to be his day.

“I guess you feel a little bit invincible. Everything is positive around you,” the Englishman told reporters after equaling his lowest round on the tour.

“That was probably one of the best rounds I’ve ever played,” added Donald who has finished in the top 10 in all but one of the nine events he has played this season on the U.S. and European tours.

The 33-year-old was tied second last year at Wentworth and could have won but for a rare errant tee shot on the par-five 17th which he said had been difficult to erase from his memory.