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Tiger back on trail of the unlikely men

The Masters: Maggert matches Woods along route 66 to sweep into lead as Weir quietly weaves way from left field

Andy Farrell
Sunday 13 April 2003 00:00 BST
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Tiger Woods has not yet won a Major when he has not been leading or tied for the lead with a round to play. If Woods is to add a ninth Major title, a fourth green jacket and a record third in a row, he will have to alter that scenario in today's final round of the 67th US Masters.

Woods ended the third round four behind Jeff Maggert, who shot through into a surprise lead with birdies at the last three holes. Maggert finished two in front of Mike Weir and three ahead of Vijay Singh and David Toms. Alongside Woods were Jose Maria Olazabal, once again inspired by returning to the scene of his two Masters wins, and Phil Mickelson.

If there is a minority that is not represented at Augusta National, at least among the professionals who are honorary members at the club due to their victories here, then it is left-handers. Mickelson may be the more famous of that persuasion but Weir was the day's main front-runner after taking a four-stroke lead when the second round was completed yesterday morning.

At one point in the afternoon Weir, who has won twice already this year and would be the first Canadian Masters champion, was six ahead, but he was not the first to slip up at Amen Corner. His second shot to the 11th hole flirted with the water before staying on the bank, but he could not save par. Weir then found the creek at the 13th and dropped two more shots at the 16th and 17th.

Maggert's 66, which left him at five under, was his lowest score at Augusta and neither his previous record here or his form this season suggested his wardrobe would welcome a green jacket. Relying on accuracy and good short games, neither the 32-year-old Weir nor Maggert arereally long hitters like those who are lined up behind them.

Woods and Ernie Els were both attempting comebacks of monumental proportions. In the case of Woods it was slow progress but his dream of becoming the first player to win a third successive green jacket is very much alive in today's final round at one under after a 66. "I knew if I could get to around level par I'd be back in the tournament," Woods said. "Finally, I got some luck and started to hole some putts."

When Nick Faldo went for his third title in a row in 1991 he finished 12th, but earlier in the morning Woods looked as if he was going to follow Jack Nicklaus in 1967 in missing the cut. With only the top 44 and ties qualifying for the last 36 holes in the Masters it is at Augusta, ironically given that he is a three-time champion, that Woods is most likely to flirt with the cut. After a double bogey at the short fourth, where he thinned one recovery from sand into a bunker on the other side, and a three-putt at the eighth, he was right on the cut line at five over.

Losing his drive to the right on his last hole ­ the ninth ­ Woods pulled his second from the pine straw into a greenside bunker. He came out to four feet and holed the tricky downhiller for his par. "It was either going in the hole or off the green," he said. This then became the 102nd consecutive tournament in which Woods has played all four rounds.

Relegated to teeing off at the 10th hole in the third round, Woods was quickly back to his best, holing a 50-footer for the first of six birdies at the 11th. It was the two at the sixth, accompanied by his trademark fist pump, and a tap-in birdie at the seventh that sent shockwaves around the course.

Woods had been 11 strokes behind at the halfway stage and no Masters winner has been more than eight adrift with 36 holes to play. Both Woods and Els already had history against them since no champion has scored higher in the first round than Craig Stadler's 75 in 1982.

Woods went birdieless in his first round of 76, but Els had a 79. "It was crazy," said the South African, who had not played for three weeks due to his wrist injury. "It took time to get the feel on the greens. You can get away with a lay-off at any other course but not here."

He responded with a second round of 66 and then holed his second shot at the seventh from 148 yards for an eagle in the third round. When he birdied the next he was one under but misfortune struck at the 14th. His second hit the flagstick and rebounded off the green. He dropped a shot and then went in the water at the 15th, but unlike earlier in the day could not save par. "I just didn't have any luck," Els said. "The 14th and 15th will probably cost me the tournament."

After taking the first-round lead with a 66, Darren Clarke returned a 76 but was still pleased to be lying second to Weir at the halfway stage. His morning did not get off to a good start when he pulled his second at the 11th into the pond and took a double bogey. It got worse with more water trouble at the 13th in the afternoon, when he took a nine. The hole also cost Paul Lawrie a triple bogey, following a double at the 12th, when he had briefly reached second place.

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