Glover Even With Rose at Hope Classic

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (AP) _ Unlike many players, Lucas Glover admits he keeps a close eye on the leaderboard. ``I definitely look at them. I like to know where I stand and what I've got to do,''

Sunday, January 21st 2007, 6:49 am

By: News On 6

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (AP) _ Unlike many players, Lucas Glover admits he keeps a close eye on the leaderboard. ``I definitely look at them. I like to know where I stand and what I've got to do,'' Glover said Saturday after he did enough _ a 7-under 65 _ to catch Justin Rose in the fourth round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Glover overcame a five-stroke deficit to join Rose at the front heading into the final day of the 90-hole tournament.

The 27-year-old Glover, a former Clemson star who has steadily moved up the ranks on the tour, matched Rose at 20 under, sticking his irons close to the pin on most greens at La Quinta and making a couple of 25-foot putts on others.

Rose, the 26-year-old Englishman who also appears to be a player on the rise, shot a 70 at The Classic Club, the site of the final round.

``I kept my nose in and around the lead, so obviously that's a good thing going into tomorrow,'' he said. ``I guess what's gone on before now is all history and we've got to look forward to tomorrow.''

His 70 followed a third round when he had taken a two-shot lead with a 66 on a gloomy, cold and windy day.

Although the day turned out to be sunny and relatively warm, the start of play Saturday was delayed a half-hour by frost on three of the four courses. The overnight low was 30 degrees, but conditions were nearly ideal later, with temperatures in the 60s and very little wind.

``I walked outside of the room this morning and the sun was already out, so I knew it wasn't going to be like yesterday,'' Glover said. ``It was perfect. And the greens here, man, they are lightning right now. Some of the best we play all year.''

Glover is shooting for his second PGA Tour victory. He won the Funai Classic in 2005. Rose is looking for his first on the tour, with his highest finish so far a tie for second last year in the Texas Open.

Glover, however, noted that Rose is coming off a win in the Australian Masters.

``Sure, the last event I played, I won, other than this one,'' Rose said.

John Rollins was two shots back after a 67, and Jeff Quinney (66) and Charley Hoffman (68) were tied for fourth at 16 under.

Phil Mickelson, the champion in 2002 and 2004, had nine birdies on his way to a 66 and a 13-under total. He's making his first start of the year.

``Not only have I been driving it much better and hitting the fairways, I've been able to hit more variety of shots,'' Mickelson said. ``When I do miss a fairway, it's been first cut or a couple yards in the rough as opposed to the big misses like I had at 17 and 18 at the U.S. Open.''

After beginning with a bogey, Glover birdied the next hole, had four pars in a row, then seemed to get his round rolling when he made a 25-footer for birdie.

He began play on the back nine, made the turn at 34 then had five birdies on his way to a 31 on the front, including another 25-footer for birdie on No. 4.

Rose had some putting problems.

He three-putted for bogey on both the 14th and 16th greens at The Classic Club. He had another bogey after hitting into the water on the par-4 11th. His up-and-down round included four bogeys and six birdies.

Four courses were used for the first four days, a pro-am. The field was reduced to the low 70 scoring pros and ties for the final round.