Tiger Woods, bidding to end a run of eight majors without victory, surged up the British Open leaderboard with a three-under-par 68 in Saturday's third round.

The American world number one, who began the day six off the pace, reeled off four birdies and one bogey to finish at four-under 209 -- four off compatriot Todd Hamilton's lead.

"I played really well today, gave myself some good chances early on and made some putts," Woods, 28, told reporters. "I got off to a great start and, from there, played solid coming home.

"I knew I needed to shoot a good round to give myself a chance going into Sunday. I was able to do that.

"Now I've got a fighting chance and I'll try to do the same thing tomorrow. Start well and hopefully make a few on the back nine as well."

Open champion at St Andrews in 2000, Woods got off to a fast start with three birdies in the first four holes.

He coaxed in a 12-footer at the par-four first, hit his approach to just four feet at the par-four second and picked up another shot at the 560-yard fourth after reaching the green in two and two-putting.

Although he missed a six-foot putt for birdie at the sixth, he almost drove the green at the 405-yard seventh to set up his fourth birdie of the day, closing to within a stroke of the lead at five under.

He slipped back, however, with a bogey at the par-four 12th after pushing his drive into the right rough and was unable to make up further ground over the closing holes.

Woods, whose last major victory came at the 2002 U.S. Open, played the first nine holes in bright sunshine before driving rain swept across the Ayrshire links course.

"At least it's a lot warmer," he said. "Last time (at Troon in 1997) we couldn't even close our fingers, close our hands.

"This was much warmer, and I was wearing short sleeves. It was just a little chill, not too bad."

Woods, who will be chasing his ninth career major in Sunday's final round, knows several players will be under pressure on a congested leaderboard.

"Everybody has to play well," he said. "You can't go out there and play poorly and win this championship.

"You have to get off to a nice start on the front nine because you know birdie opportunities on the back nine are few and far between."

Email this page to a friend | 2005 Open Coverage | Return to top of page