Euro Tour: Chris Wood Looks to Break Through in BMW International Open

His name is Wood. Chris Wood.

No, Tiger Woods is not the notable golfer in contention playing a rare tournament on the European Tour.

Chris Wood is a 24-year-old Englishman primed to break through with his first professional victory. He trails leader Danny Willett by one stroke entering the final round of the BMW International Open.

I wrote yesterday about how Woods has caused apathy amongst marketers of the PGA Tour, who refuse to legitimately promote any other player besides Woods, even promising young guns.

With that said, there is no way anyone on this side of the pond knows who Wood is, since he spends most of his time on Europe's premier circuit.

What is most fascinating about Wood is that he has already come so close to golf immortality.

At the 2008 British Open, Wood was an amateur. The 6'5", lanky unknown who had to get through a local qualifier was on the grind in ridiculously tough conditions at Royal Birkdale.

Entering the back nine, Wood was in contention to win until three consecutive bogeys from holes 11 through 13 did him in, as well as stellar back nine play from eventual champion Padraig Harrington.

The following year, Wood was a pro enjoying a fantastic inaugural year on the European Tour, which earned him the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award at the conclusion of the season.

The stunning play of 59-year-old Tom Watson, Stewart Cink’s first major victory and Lee Westwood three-putting the 72nd hole to miss the playoff by one stroke overshadowed Wood's performance in the 2009 British Open at Turnberry.

However, Wood was agonizingly close to victory himself, even more so than the previous year.

A birdie on the final hole would have won the tournament outright, and a par would have gotten him into a playoff with Watson and Cink.

Unfortunately, fate and Mother Nature had other plans.

Wood had a flyer lie in the rough on the last hole. With the adrenaline pumping through his body, and an incredible tailwind, Wood a blasted a 9-iron from the fairway 210 yards over the green, and failed to get up and down for par.

A tie for fifth and a tie for third at the most significant tournament in the world for a European player is simply phenomenal, but often unnoticed.

That's probably because Wood has yet to win a professional event.

No matter the star-power of the golfer, considering the circumstances of how the week started, Wood should be prominent in the golf headlines if he's able to pull out a victory tomorrow.

After sitting in traffic and moving one kilometer in 20 minutes, it became apparent that Wood wouldn't make his first round tee time.

He ran three and a half kilometers with his clubs to the course, and fired a seven-under par 65 on Thursday.

Hitting nearly 80 percent of greens in regulation through three rounds at the BMW International Open, Wood has continued his career-best ball striking on the Euro Tour this season.

What's hindering Wood's chances of winning this week is his putter. He hasn't bested 30 putts in any round this week, and had numerous golden opportunities on Saturday to score better than his two-under 70 showing.

Nearly two years after ascending to No. 84 in the Official World Golf Rankings, the young and talented Wood sits at No. 194.

A win this week would catapult him in the rankings, and also in the golf analytical stratosphere as a young player to watch.

It's unclear why Wood has yet to win as a professional. He hits the ball incredibly straight; usually working it left to right. He has nearly won the Open Championship twice.

On Sunday in Cologne, Wood's time may—and should—finally come.