Tiger stalks leader in British Open Golf

World number one Tiger Woods teed off in Saturday's third round of the British Open stalking leader Louis Oosthuizen on the fabled Old Course where he has twice lifted the Claret Jug.

Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus, won British Open titles in 2000 and 2005 at St. Andrews and hopes to become the first three-time Open winner at the birthplace of golf.

Woods struggled to a one-over 73 in Friday's high winds to begin the third round eight strokes behind Oosthuizen, who finished before the worst of the gales to stand on 12-under par 132 for a five-stroke edge after 36 holes.

"If you get a good break you have to capitalize on it. He certainly did," Woods said. "Everyone else, we had to grind it out, gut it out.

"Everyone is dealing with the wind and everyone is playing the same golf course - just got to go out there and execute."

Woods has not won a title since a sex scandal engulfed him last November and led to a five-month layoff. While he shared fourth at the Masters and US Open, Woods has not shown the overpowering form he once displayed.

Before the start, Woods was smiling and laughing on the practice green with Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke, a close pal and third-round playing partner who could lighten Woods' mood on their stroll across the legendary links.

Oosthuizen enjoyed the largest midway lead at a British Open since 1982, when American Bobby Clampett led by five at Royal Troon only to collapse at the weekend and finish in a share of 10th.

But benign pin placements and reasonable winds opened the possibility of low rounds from top contenders in a bid to chase down Oosthuizen, a 27-year-old South African who missed the cut in seven of his eight prior majors.

"It's everyone's dream to win the Open Championship," Oosthuizen said. "But to win it at St. Andrews, (you) never really think it will happen."

American Mark Calcavecchia, the 1989 Open champion trying to win his second major title at age 50, matched Oosthuizen with a 67 on Friday to stand second entering the third round.

Englishmen Lee Westwood and Paul Casey, South Korean amateur Jin Jeong and Spain's Alejandro Canizares shared third on 138, six off the pace.

Jeong, a 20-year-old who won the British Amateur crown last month, and Canizares, the son of four-time Ryder Cup starter Jose Maria Canizares, are both British Open debutantes.

Seven others began the round on 139, including reigning US Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa and 51-year-old American Tom Lehman, the 1996 British Open winner.

England's Ross Fisher had set the pace among early starters, but he bounced a shot off the Road Hole's namesake path and went out of bounds on his way to a double bogey at 17. He birdied 18 to fire a 68 and stand on 213 after 54 holes.