The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Woods maintains lead

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 24, 2006

Sport

Sport - Golf

Woods maintains lead

HOYLAKE: Tiger Woods consolidated his lead early in the final round of the British Open on Sunday as playing partner Sergio Garcia's putting once again let him down.

The 30-year-old American was using long-irons again off the tee to reach all three opening par-four greens in regulation.

And while Woods safely negotiated the ensuing putts, Garcia missed a five-footer on the second and a three-footer on the third to slip three behind the defending champion.

Up ahead Ernie Els was also on a level par run and remained just one behind Woods, but Chris DiMarco bogeyed the first.

The biggest move early on was made by emerging Argentine golfer Andres Romero.

The 25-year-old from Tucuman went on a run of three straight birdies from the fourth to get to 11-under for the tournament, two strokes behind Woods.

Woods was aiming to join the legendary Walter Hagen as second equal on the all-time list of major championship winners.

If he holds to his one-stroke lead, it will give him his 11th title win in one of golf's four crown jewels and put him level with Hagen who reached that mark at the 1929 British Open.

Sole man ahead

Only Jack Nicklaus would lie ahead of him with his haul of 18 majors being the Holy Grail that Woods' entire career is based on surpassing.

It would also make Woods the first back-to-back winner of the British Open since Tom Watson in 1982-83 and confirm that he is back at the helm after his nine-week break from the game to mourn the death of his father.

But, while Woods has never lost a major while leading going into the final round, he started the day expecting a mighty challenge over the Royal Liverpool links with no fewer than 14 top-class players within five strokes of his lead.

Norwegian teenager Marius Thorp won this year's silver medal as top amateur, holing a 25-footer to birdie the last for a 71.

The 18-year-old from Oslo finished on even-par 288, seven strokes ahead of Italy's Edoardo Molinari.

Molinari, the only other amateur who made the halfway cut, closed with a 75.

Thorp mixed three birdies with two bogeys to finish level with playing partner and five-times Open champion Tom Watson.

``This is fantastic,'' said the Norwegian, who booked his place at Hoylake by winning last year's European amateur championship. ``I played really well all four days and today I played with one of the greatest legends in the game. It's been a perfect day.''

Watson was impressed by Thorp.

``I think he's a very good player and he's fearless with the putter,'' the 56-year-old American said. ``I remember those days. God I wish I could do that now.''

Asian presence

The Asian Tour players are giving it their all in hope of some good placings.

Korea's Hur Suk-ho, better known as SK Ho, brought himself back into contention for a good finish with a three-under 69 that saw him come up to six-under 210 and in tied 16th place.

Thai Thaworn Wiratchant looked good for a top-10 for better part of the day, before he started sliding on the back nine and finished with a two-over 74 and ended tied 39th at the end of the third day.

Another Asian Tour player playing the weekend rounds is Australian Andrew Buckle, a last-minute entrant following Trevor Immelman's withdrawal. He was also tied 39th with rounds of 72, 69 and 72 alongside Wiratchant. — Agencies

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