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| |  Saturday, 13 April, 2002, 23:01 GMT 00:01 UK Woods roars into contention Woods was in inspiring form in Augusta Tiger Woods kept his head while many around him were losing theirs to earn a joint share of the lead after the third round of the US Masters at Augusta. The defending champion hit seven birdies during a superb round of 66 in the rain-delayed day to move to 11-under-par. That sent him top of the leaderboard alongside South Africa's Retief Goosen, who was clear on his own until he bogeyed the 18th following a poor tee shot. Vijay Singh finished two shots behind the leaders after a 72 - but the Fijian and the South African will both be underdogs on Sunday as the current title holder looks in no mood to relinquish his crown.
The predicted showers mercifully held off to allow the completion of the second round in the morning before the day produced a fascinating third round which saw all the world's top-ranked players swapping places. Overnight leader Vijay Singh dropped back to second after keeping Goosen company in front for much of the round. But a nightmarish shot at the 15th, where he blazed the ball into a water hazard, put the brakes on his charge and he stumbled home for nine-under. Phil Mickelson's fine 68 was the only comparable round to Woods' and took him alongside Sergio Garcia and Ernie Els on seven-under. But the chasing pack will have to produce something special to catch up with Woods and Goosen. The South Africans looked set to dominate early on, with Goosen hitting birdies at each of the first three holes, and Els also enjoying birdies at two and three.
But while the US Open champion continued to pressurise the field with an astounding display of long-range putting, Els faded. Yet it was Woods who really caught the eye. On a day when most players seemed incapable of consistency, Woods drove, chipped and putted with assurance, his bogey at the fourth the only blemish on an otherwise excellent round. He secured his place alongside Goosen in the final group for the final round with a typically confident 12-footer to birdie the 18th - a feat which no other player in the top 20 could match. Padraig Harrington had a bittersweet round, and was well poised to finish among the group on seven-under after a round which included four birdies. But he had a miserable six at the 18th to drop back to five-under. Colin Montgomerie hit a two-under-par 70 to finish on level par, while Nick Faldo is one- under-par after hitting a 73. Tournament organisers have brought forward play in the final round by one hour as they attempt to protect what should be a great spectacle from the showery weather which is forecast for later in the day. | |
 
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