Tiger on the prowl

Tiger Woods was moving – almost effortlessly – closer to the American Express world championship title at Mount Juliet in Ireland today.

One ahead after a course-record 65 on Thursday and two in front after another yesterday, the world number one picked off birdies at the two par fives on the outward half and at 16 under par led by three.

Woods had still to notch a bogey in the £3.5million tournament – an event which, with its million-dollar first prize, he rates more important than next week’s Ryder Cup.

Fellow American Scott McCarron and Fiji’s Vijay Singh were his closest challengers on 13 under, with four more of his fellow countrymen – Justin Leonard, Rocco Mediate, David Toms and Jerry Kelly – one further back.

No European looked capable of stopping him, even though Thomas Bjorn fired a third round 66 and Padraig Harrington a 67.

Bjorn, who turned in 31 and holed a bunker shot at the last, and local hope Harrington were both 10 under and sharing 14th place with England’s Gary Evans, who on his world championship debut turned in 35, but after a birdie at the long 10th bogeyed the next.

It was a buggy rather than a bogey which caused some concern as Woods prepared to tee off.

Two spectators were hit by a buggy close to the first hole and one of them was thought to have suffered a broken foot as an ambulance was called to the scene.

Colin Montgomerie had a 69, but while he had lowered his score each day he remained deep in the pack at five under.

The Scot admitted afterwards his back was beginning to ache again as the week wore on, but while he repeated his comment of last Sunday that he does not want to take part at The Belfry if he feels he cannot play all five games, his mood was nowhere near as bleak.

Montgomerie talked about how much practising he expected to do once the teams had assembled on Monday.

“I won’t do anything different to anybody else. I’ll have no special needs,” he said. “I’ll practise as much as I have to.

“I expect we’ll have one round Tuesday, one Wednesday and nine holes Thursday. I should be able to cope with that.”

Bjorn said: “I played really, really well pretty much all day.

“It’s coming together nicely. I’ve been working so hard that eventually it had to. It’s a nice feeling to have heading into next week.

“It does not bother me who I play with. I feel I fit in very well into the team. Obviously, there are guys I get on better with and I think that’s important.”

With Woods and other members of the American team totally open about their dislike of the final few days before the match it would have been music to Torrance’s ears to hear Bjorn talk about that.

“I am fine with it. The days leading up to the match are very important to get the guys together and get back to how we were before September 11.

“There’s going to be a lot of friendly banter going on and there’s no substitute for that. The way they (the Americans) are talking it seems we have the edge on that and I think that’s the strongest part of the European team.

“It seems they don’t want to go to the functions, but I will eat with the guys I normally eat with and some others. It will be great fun.”

Even Darren Clarke, last at halfway, was upbeat after a 70 for five over.

With a little help from Woods, Singh and Nick Price – winners of 13 major titles between them – Clarke believes there is still time for him to hit top form at next week’s Ryder Cup.

Having wished he had spent more time in the bar than on the practice range before his opening scores of 75 and 76, the Ulsterman is now glad he put work before pleasure.

“I’ve had Tiger, Vijay and Nicky Price all telling me I’m not swinging bad,” he said. “Tiger just came wandering along and spent five to 10 minutes with me.

“I said ‘I hoped you’re not going to mess e up for next week’, but he’s a good guy and we get on really well. He said one or two small things and I’m very close to swinging well now.

“It was an awful lot better today and I’m optimistic now. I want to play well for Sam and the team and that’s why I’ve been spending the hours I have on the range.

“After I played yesterday I was there for a couple of hours, then back from 5pm until 7.50. I’ll be back there again this afternoon – although I might have a Guinness break for an hour!”

Woods had still to resume at that point and Clarke was asked if he was tempted to return the favour and give the world number one some tips before he played again.

“I could really mess him up,” he joked. “I think he’s doing very well without my help.”

Clarke is still waiting for the run of the ball to start going his way. “I’m finishing in divots in the middle of the fairway and whatever, I had one ball kick into a hazard and another kick into a bunker and I always seem to be between clubs here.

“Hopefully that will turn round next week.”