July 22, 2007	Sunday	Rajab 06, 1428

CARNOUSTIE (Scotland), July 21: Steve Stricker equalled Carnoustie's course record 64 to fire himself into contention at the British Open on Saturday but overnight leader Sergio Garcia continued to keep the chasing pack at arm's length.

On moving day, nobody moved faster than Stricker. Starting at one over, the American claimed birdies on each of his first three holes and continued in similar vein.

A good par save from a greenside bunker on the 18th allowed the 40-year-old to match Colin Montgomerie's course record and surge up the leaderboard.

At six under, Stricker remained two shots adrift of Garcia, who had gone to the turn in two under par to preserve his two-shot overnight lead.

Playing alongside Garcia, K.J. Choi saw his chances of becoming Asia's first major winner recede as he slipped back to a share of third place at three under par, following bogeys at the long sixth and short eighth holes.

Tiger Woods has an even bigger task ahead of him on Sunday if he is to claim a third straight Open title. The world No 1 had an up-and-down day on his way to a 69 that leaves him at one-under for the tournament. Woods has never come from behind on the final day to win a major.

Garcia will have been relieved to see Woods struggling as he waited to tee off and any nerves were settled by a birdie on the opening hole which was followed by another on the eighth.

Garcia's compatriot, Miguel Angel Jimenez, was alone in third place at four under while Canada's Mike Weir, the Irish pair Paul McGinley (68) and Padraig Harrington and American Chris DiMarco were all on three under, along with Choi.

Ernie Els was a shot further back. DiMarco, the runner-up to Woods at Hoylake last year, posted a five-under par 66.

It was also a good day for US Masters champion Zach Johnson, who produced his best Open round to date with a 68.

England's Ian Poulter had looked set to go lower as he romped to five under for the day and one under for the tournament.

Former US Open champion Michael Campbell, who had led the tournament for most of the opening day, saw his chances of a high finish on Sunday recede after posting a third round 72 that left him at five over.

Completed third-round scores:

210 – Chris DiMarco (US) 74, 70, 66.

212 – Pelle Edberg (Sweden) 72, 73, 67; Justin Rose (Britain) 75, 70, 67; Rich Beem (US) 70, 73, 69; Tiger Woods (US) 69, 74, 69.

213 – Markus Brier (Austria) 68, 75, 70.

214 – Zach Johnson (US) 73, 73, 68; Nick Dougherty (Britain) 71, 74, 69; Paul Casey (Britain) 72, 73, 69.

215 – Hunter Mahan (US) 73, 73, 69; Jonathan Byrd (US) 73, 72, 70; Richard Green (Australia) 72, 73, 70; Jerry Kelly (US) 74, 70, 71; Adam Scott (Australia) 73, 70, 72.

216 – Lee Won-joon (Australia) 73, 73, 70; Ian Poulter (Britain) 73, 73, 70; Ben Curtis (US) 72, 74, 70; Shaun Micheel (US) 70, 76, 70; Charley Hoffman (US) 75, 69, 72, Ross Bain (Britain) 73, 71, 72, Arron Oberholser (US) 73, 71, 72; Mark Calcavecchia (US) 74, 70, 72.

217 – John Senden (Australia) 72, 74, 71; Brian Davis (Britain) 74, 72, 71; Scott Verplank (US) 72, 73, 72; Rory McIlroy (Britain) 68, 76, 73; Niclas Fasth (Sweden) 75, 69, 73.

218 – Michael Campbell (New Zealand) 68, 78, 72; Carl Pettersson (Sweden) 70, 75, 73; Ryan Moore (US) 72, 72, 74.

219 – Mark Foster (Britain) 76, 70, 73; David Howell (Britain) 72, 76, 73; Luke Donald (Britain) 70, 76, 73; Sandy Lyle (Britain) 73, 73, 73; Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 70, 75, 74; Anders Hansen (Denmark) 72, 73, 74; Raphael Jacquelin (France) 74, 69, 76.

220 – Tom Lehman (US) 73, 73, 74; Kevin Stadler (US) 75, 71, 74; Sean O'Hair (US) 71, 75, 74; Toru Taniguchi (Japan) 72, 72, 76; Peter Hanson (Sweden) 70, 74, 76.

222 – Mark O'Meara (US) 74, 72, 76; Trevor Immelman (South Africa) 71, 74, 77; Fredrik Andersson Hed (Sweden) 72, 71, 79.

225 – Jon Bevan (Britain) 73, 73, 79.

—Agencies