Chasing pack maintain Tiger pursuit

The chasing pack were keeping Tiger Woods in their sights in the final round of the Open championship at St Andrews today.

Woods began the day with a two-shot lead over playing partner Jose Maria Olazabal, with Colin Montgomerie and Retief Goosen a shot further back.

Goosen was the first to drop out of contention, the double US Open winner three-putting the opening hole and playing the first five holes in three over par.

But Olazabal and Montgomerie were clinging on to the Tiger’s tail in the early stages, Montgomerie picking up two birdies in the first five holes to move into a share of second place.

The Scot holed from 18ft on the third and two-putted the par five fifth from long range, while Olazabal birdied the fourth but three-putted for par from just off the green on the next.

Woods opened with four solid pars before two-putting the fifth for his first birdie, restoring his two-shot cushion at 13 under.

None of the earlier starters had been able to mount a significant early charge, former Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer going out in 33 but then dropping a shot on the 10th.

The clubhouse target had initially been set by Scottish amateur Eric Ramsay, who carded a superb closing 68.

Ramsay’s total of 284, four under par, set a daunting target for his three remaining rivals in the battle for the silver medal awarded to the leading amateur.

The 25-year-old from nearby Carnoustie, who intends to turn professional at the end of the year, carded five birdies and just one bogey to match the lowest round of the day so far.

His total was eventually overtaken by Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, who birdied five of the last seven holes to card a 67 and six-under total of 282.

Woods missed from six feet for birdie on the seventh and again from just three feet on the eighth.

Moments later Montgomerie two-putted from 25 feet on the ninth for birdie to move to 12 under and within one of the lead.

Meanwhile Nick Faldo produced an amazing birdie-eagle finish, holing a 70-foot putt through the Valley of Sin on the last, to card a 69 and join McDowell and Ian Poulter as leaders in the clubhouse on six under.

Woods was far from his imperious best and, after a two-putt birdie on the ninth, drove into a bunker on the 10th to bogey.

Crucially Montgomerie let his rival off the hook however, dropping a shot on the 11th after overshooting the green with his tee-shot.

That left Woods two clear again of Montgomerie and Olazabal, the Spaniard having birdied the ninth.