Thomas Bjorn realistic about winning chances

Thomas Bjorn has not ruled out his chances of claiming a first major title, although the Dane knows he faces a tough task to overhaul the two men ahead of him on the U.S. Masters leaderboard.

When Saturday's third round at the weather-affected tournament was curtailed due to fading light, only playing partner Chris DiMarco and world number two Tiger Woods were better placed than Bjorn.

The Dane is on eight under through nine holes, five behind DiMarco and one adrift of Woods.

"I can only say that if Chris continues to play the way he has, he's going to be difficult to beat," Bjorn said.

"Tiger is Tiger, and when he gets on those kind of runs, we never know what's going to happen."

Bjorn, who outlasted Woods in the final round to win the 2001 Dubai Desert Classic, is happy that the three-times U.S. Masters champion is making a bid for a major title again three years after his most recent success at the U.S. Open.

"I think it's great for the game that he's playing the kind of golf we were used to seeing.

"I've seen him play the best golf of his life, probably, at Pebble Beach in 2000, and I know what he is capable of doing."

The Dane, who threw away a chance of clinching the British Open in 2003 with a string of late mistakes, maintained that this was the first time he was actually enjoying being in contention for a major.

"I always thought before it was such hard work but this time I am having fun. That might be the key to playing well," he said.

"It's nice to see your name there, but there's still 27 holes to go."