Chrysler Classic of Greensboro Round Three: Looks like the devil of a duel between Love and Couch

Oh heavens! Chris Couch isn’t going to win again is he? I’m sure he’s a really nice chap ‘n ‘all, and obviously he’s no mean golfer when he puts his mind to it, but I find his “doing God’s work” routine faintly nauseating. If I was a contestant of an alternative religious persuasion, I might even find it offensive.

Or is success on the PGA circuit now restricted to Bible-bashers? Someone should tell John Daly - that’s clearly where he’s going wrong. And if I was Davis Love III I would cry foul that Couch is, by his own admission, being unfairly aided.

A piece of friendly advice in case Mr Couch ever contemplates playing in Britain. These days we are awash in over-zealous religious thought police (I’m really not joking). I am sure they would have no hesitation in hauling him off to the cop-shop for an interview about inflammatory religious statements if he started spouting that nonsense. So Chris, do us and yourself a favour and belt up.

Religion aside, the odds certainly favour Couch or Love on Sunday. I’ve already noted how recent precedent is on their side. So too is their game.

Crouch is a player who doesn’t contend too often, but when he does believes in only one outcome. Talk about steady: just three bogeys over three days. Love’s card is peppered with them.

But both players have shown they can prosper whatever the weather (they say it’s going to be fine Sunday). That’s my problem with challenger John Senden: he’s done his best work in the murk of Friday and Saturday.

You can’t discount a charge from the back, like the ones that surprised me Saturday from Daniel Chopra and Lucas Glover - a case of the weather lacking bite early on again and the tournament organisers taking pity on the players with benign pin positions.

The pins will be harder to reach Sunday and scoring a bit tighter. But if there was a charge I’d see Brett Quigley as the most likely candidate or maybe Glover. Also note that Joe Durant’s scores suggest he will welcome a return to decent weather - and he did hit a barnstorming 66 last Sunday to force his way into the Southern Farm Bureau playoff.

But my initial money’s on the leading pair. I am rooting for Love. Unfortunately, I have a feeling Crouch will again be singing the Lord’s praises at the end.