Golf: Woods hit by illness

Tiger Woods was struck down by stomach trouble on the eve of his bid for a third successive victory in the NEC world championship in Akron.

The world number one was described as "under the weather" by officials after he cancelled a scheduled press conference.

Woods beat Phil Mickelson by a shot at Firestone two years ago and last year achieved one of the biggest wins and lowest scores in US Tour history on the same course.

After opening with rounds of 64 and a course record-equalling 61 he closed with two 67s for a 21 under par 259 and 11-stroke margin over joint runners-up Phil Price and Justin Leonard.

The victory was completed in near total-darkness after an earlier rain delay, yet Woods still hit his approach to the 464-yard last hole to within inches of the cup for a tap-in birdie recorded for posterity by flashlights.

The difference between then and now - apart from his health - is that a year ago Woods was oozing confidence a week after beating Bob May for his third successive Major.

Now, after adding the Masters in April, he has lost three successive Majors and, far worse than that, was not even a factor over the closing holes of any of them.