British Open: Tiger playing catch-up

Tiger Woods can only make a successful defence of the Open title at Royal Lytham if he does something he has never achieved before.

But first he must rediscover a swing that at times totally deserted him in his third round 73.

After running up a double bogey seven on the seventh hole of his third round and then finishing with an equally wild bogey, Woods is only one under par and deep in the pack going into the closing 18 holes.

In the six major titles he has won so far in his career Woods has either been out in front or sharing top spot entering the final day.

When the world number one birdied the first from 30 feet and the fourth from 22 feet he was only two behind Colin Montgomerie and looking favourite again to take another step towards Jack Nicklaus' record 18 majors.

That remained the case when he made up for a bogey on the next by making four at the 494-yard sixth.

He was looking to move even closer at the 557-yard seventh, but instead the opposite happened.

A slightly pushed drive was no major cause for alarm, but he was tempted to try too much with his next and carved it into the bushes.

After hitting a provisional ball the original was found and, accompanied by the lady policeman who has been at his side all week, he marched back clearly in a temper to hit another.

Back to three under as a result, there was time to repair the damage, but failing to birdie any of the next six - including the long 11th - and then three-putting the 14th left the 25-year-old resigned to being off the pace.

He was in more bushes at the 18th and forced to take a penalty drop again. But even though he dropped further back he smiled with playing partner and close friend Mark O'Meara at the end.