THE OPEN RELATED STORIES The Open Home Page The Open Scores Round 4: Padraig Harrington wins Open in playoff Round 4: Late bogeys cost Romero The Open Round 4: No final round charge from Tiger Woods Round 4: Richard Green equals course record Round 4: 18th at Carnoustie strikes again Round 3: Sergio Garcia in sight of first major title Round 3: Justin Rose boosted by round of 67 Round 3: Late problems cost Ian Poulter dear Round 3: Tiger Woods shoots 69 but still eight back Round 3: Chris DiMarco back in the mix after a 65 Round 3: Steve Stricker shoots course record Round 2: Sergio Garcia holds on to lead on Friday Round 2: Rory McIlroy claims Silver Medal Round 2: Garcia not bothered when he wins major Round 2: Phil Mickelson struggles and misses cut Round 2: Tiger Woods still in the hunt despite 74 Round 2: Weir jumps into contention with round of 68 Round 1: Sergio Garcia leads with opening 65 Round 1: David Howell happy with eventful 72 Round 1: KJ Choi happy despite late bogeys Round 1: Inspired Michael Campbell shoots 68 Round 1: Ruling overshadows Tiger's round Round 1: Last minute tip helps McGinley to a 67 Round 1: Amateur Rory McIlroy scores a 68 Top 20 favourites for the Open Tiger Woods targets third straight Open title Paul Lawrie returns to site of famous victory Colin Montgomerie backs European winner Draw for first & second rounds Seve Ballesteros retires from golf Jean Van de Velde suffering from unknown illness Wild weather day at Carnoustie Jim Furyk enjoys his low profile Phil Mickelson not worried about driving problems Peter Fowler aims to get career back on track Nick Faldo fears for "nice" Europeans No distractions for Tiger Woods Paul Lawrie still not getting credit for Open win Jose Maria Olazabal withdraws from the Open Rod Pampling seeks to change Carnoustie luck Sergio Garcia unhappy with Scottish weather Weather biggest factor in how Carnoustie will play Gary Player says some players take steriods Justin Rose seeks to break European drought Quotations about the Open Championship Course Guide: Carnoustie 2007 European Tour Schedule GREAT GIFTS FOR GOLFERS Golf Breaks to Portugal & Ireland Half Price Golf Vouchers InstructaCard - your portable pro! The Father & Son Golf Ch'ship Golf Insurance

Tiger Woods shoots 69 but still eight back

Tiger Woods fired a two-under 69 in the British Open third round on Saturday but failed to make any immediate impact on leader Sergio Garcia.

The world No 1 is chasing a hat-trick of Open victories, a feat achieved only once in the last 125 years by Australian Peter Thomson (1954-56).

Woods has not won any of his 12 majors coming from behind on the final day and will have to break that streak after compatriot Steve Stricker set a stiff clubhouse target of 207, six under, with a course record-equalling 64.

The 31-year-old Woods will start out on Sunday at one under.

Garcia was going well on the course at nine under in slightly easier conditions than the first two days, having birdied the first, eighth and 11th.

Pre-tournament favourite Woods, who started the day seven behind Garcia, did not help his cause with a bogey five at the second but birdies at the fourth and fifth and another at the seventh sent him to the turn in a two-under 34.

He picked up another shot at the long 14th but further birdies proved elusive.

Woods's surge was put in the shade by the sizzling Stricker who collected seven birdies.

Stricker was three clear of compatriot Chris DiMarco (66), the runner-up last year to Woods at Hoylake.

The 40-year-old Stricker has never won a major and his Open best is tied 22nd at Royal Lytham in 1996.

But he has a solid record on the PGA Tour and is a three-times winner including the 2001 Accenture Match Play Championship. Woods and Stricker were not the only early starters to make progress in damp but relatively benign conditions.

U.S. Masters champion Zach Johnson was one to benefit with a 68 which took him to one over while Britain's Justin Rose gained six birdies in a 67 to go one under.