Tiger looks ominous as game is ‘building’

TIGER WOODS was left in an unfamiliar position at St Andrews yesterday after being joined by Rory McIlroy in golf’s “63 Club.”

Woods, who equalled the major championship record round himself at the US PGA three years ago, has led after each of the last seven rounds of The Open at the Home of Golf.

This time, in his first tournament in Britain since his sex scandal, the world number one has four strokes to make up on the Irishman.

But the fact that it is “only” four with 54 holes to play means Woods still represents a real danger.

Asked what advice he would give 21-year-old McIlroy now he said: “Just keep doing what he’s doing. Obviously he’s doing what he needs to do and he’s got a long way to go. He knows how to win golf tournaments and he’ll be fine.’’

Woods bristled when asked about the adverse comments of his caddie Steve Williams earlier this week with reference to poor putting.

He claimed he knew nothing about the story although admitting that “these greens are the slowest I’ve seen in a long time, if ever, and I’m very pleased with the new putter. The game is getting better every week. The things I’ve been working on are starting to come together. I’m hitting shots that I haven’t hit in a long time. It’s building.”

After three-putting the 17th for bogey and then doing the same from the Valley of Sin on the last – for par – he still stated: “I’m very pleased with it.

“It comes off faster and these greens are just the slowest I’ve seen in a long time, if ever. Today felt awkward because there was absolutely no wind whatsoever and you never play a links golf course with no wind.’’