• Westwood leads Woods by two after third round at Muirfield
• Adam Scott and Hunter Mahan in strong contention
Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood shake hands at the end of their Open third round at Muirfield.
This Open, this war of attrition, will be handed the finale that befits arguably the finest golf course in the world. Lee Westwood is within touching distance of joining the illustrious names who have held the Claret Jug aloft in East Lothian.
Westwood and Tiger Woods, who have a mutual respect that was so apparent during their third round, may be separated by 14 majors, but the Englishman holds the advantage here. At two shots, on a course where birdies come at such a premium, that edge should not be underestimated.
For Westwood, there is also the knowledge that Woods has been known to try too hard to claim a 15th championship. As has damaged him in the past, Westwood did not, this time, wilt with the aura of Woods alongside him. After a 17-year wait for an Englishman to win a major, could he join Justin Rose in providing two in as many months?
Woods, unlike his adversary, has at least demonstrated the mental capacity to claim majors. History would be created if he wins this one while starting the fourth round in a place other than the lead. Those looking on can bank on Sunday drama. "I have got 14 of these things, and I know what it takes to win it," said Woods. "Lee has won tournaments all over the world. He knows how to win golf tournaments. He is two shots ahead and we're going to go out there and both compete and play. It's not just us two. There's a bunch of guys who have a chance to win this tournament. And all of us need to really play well tomorrow to win it."
A blanket can be thrown over those who wish to upset the leading duo, with Hunter Mahan especially notable on account of a superb 68 on Saturday. Mahan, thereby, matched Sergio García and Richard Sterne in providing the best third-round score.
The man who links Woods, Westwood and Mahan is the swing coach Sean Foley. Which not only means Foley must be doing something right, but that the epitome of split loyalties could be displayed as the year's third major reaches its climax on Sunday.
Mahan, who lies with Woods at one under, was reduced to tears after his role in the United States' Ryder Cup defeat at Celtic Manor in 2010. Three years on, Mahan appears to have turned a mental corner, having finished in a tie for fourth place at last month's US Open. "I don't need any redemption or anything like that," said Mahan of events in Wales. "I don't play golf for revenge or to make up for anything."
This was a day that would require a book the depth of a London telephone directory to detail appropriately. Glorious snippets could be lost in the melee; such as Charl Schwartzel driving a 15th hole that was playing 448 yards. That illustrates the strength of the Muirfield wind rather then any superhuman element to the South African's makeup.
Woods holed a 25-feet putt on the 2nd at precisely 3.33pm to join Miguel Angel Jiménez at the summit of the leaderboard. At that 38-hole juncture, Woods had single-putted 19 times.
Just 12 minutes later, Woods held the lead on his own as Jiménez stumbled. The next slip was from the world No1, who found the bunker to the right of the par-three 4th green. By now, Woods shared the lead with Jiménez and Henrik Stenson. And so this wonderful slugging went on.
Even those players who had seemed knocked out either re-emerged or appeared in prominent places for the first time. Among them were Mahan, Ryan Moore, Adam Scott and Francesco Molinari. In the case of Scott, who is even par after 54 holes, success in this year's Masters means he has the mental capacity to lift the Claret Jug. If he were to do so, the Australian would also erase the pain of Royal Lytham & St Annes 12 months ago when he led by four shots after his third round but finished as runner-up to Ernie Els. This year, Scott will partner Woods in round four.
"It's a good feeling to sit here in this position, absolutely," said Scott. "I go out there tomorrow not carrying the weight of the lead or not having won a major."
Some vanished without trace. Martin Laird, who started the day two shots from the lead, had such a debacle on the 3rd that he emerged with a nine. Laird's 38 holes of sterling work were undone by Muirfield's wild stuff. He later signed for an 81.
Woods pulled out his driver for the first time in this championship on the 5th tee. It was Westwood who was celebrating by the green, after holing out from off the putting surface for an eagle. Westwood held the lead, by a stroke, on his own.
After seven, Westwood suddenly stood three clear of the field. The Englishman played a glorious tee shot into five feet and converted, and Woods went long and bogeyed. At the 8th, as Westwood missed from four feet for par, only four players lay better than even. That number never increased.
Westwood snatched back the initiative on the 14th, where his brilliant approach shot left only three feet for birdie. Woods again found sand, but this time saved par.
Westwood's bogey on 16 was a fine score, given that it arrived by virtue of a 20-feet putt. Woods's birdie attempt slipped past by the narrowest of margins. What looked a potential three-shot swing ended up no worse than Westwood tying with his playing partner.
The final error of the round came from Woods. The 37-year-old erred when finding a fairway bunker on the par-five 17th with his second shot. A careless bogey negatively defined Woods's afternoon; only time will tell if it does likewise for his tournament. "If I hit it flat and flush, it's fine, it carries," said Woods of events on the penultimate hole. "But I spun it. And you spin it against that wind, it's not going to go very far."
Thursday, Friday and Saturday were the prelude; day four will be utterly compelling.
Westwood and Tiger Woods, who have a mutual respect that was so apparent during their third round, may be separated by 14 majors, but the Englishman holds the advantage here. At two shots, on a course where birdies come at such a premium, that edge should not be underestimated.
For Westwood, there is also the knowledge that Woods has been known to try too hard to claim a 15th championship. As has damaged him in the past, Westwood did not, this time, wilt with the aura of Woods alongside him. After a 17-year wait for an Englishman to win a major, could he join Justin Rose in providing two in as many months?
Woods, unlike his adversary, has at least demonstrated the mental capacity to claim majors. History would be created if he wins this one while starting the fourth round in a place other than the lead. Those looking on can bank on Sunday drama. "I have got 14 of these things, and I know what it takes to win it," said Woods. "Lee has won tournaments all over the world. He knows how to win golf tournaments. He is two shots ahead and we're going to go out there and both compete and play. It's not just us two. There's a bunch of guys who have a chance to win this tournament. And all of us need to really play well tomorrow to win it."
A blanket can be thrown over those who wish to upset the leading duo, with Hunter Mahan especially notable on account of a superb 68 on Saturday. Mahan, thereby, matched Sergio García and Richard Sterne in providing the best third-round score.
The man who links Woods, Westwood and Mahan is the swing coach Sean Foley. Which not only means Foley must be doing something right, but that the epitome of split loyalties could be displayed as the year's third major reaches its climax on Sunday.
Mahan, who lies with Woods at one under, was reduced to tears after his role in the United States' Ryder Cup defeat at Celtic Manor in 2010. Three years on, Mahan appears to have turned a mental corner, having finished in a tie for fourth place at last month's US Open. "I don't need any redemption or anything like that," said Mahan of events in Wales. "I don't play golf for revenge or to make up for anything."
This was a day that would require a book the depth of a London telephone directory to detail appropriately. Glorious snippets could be lost in the melee; such as Charl Schwartzel driving a 15th hole that was playing 448 yards. That illustrates the strength of the Muirfield wind rather then any superhuman element to the South African's makeup.
Woods holed a 25-feet putt on the 2nd at precisely 3.33pm to join Miguel Angel Jiménez at the summit of the leaderboard. At that 38-hole juncture, Woods had single-putted 19 times.
Just 12 minutes later, Woods held the lead on his own as Jiménez stumbled. The next slip was from the world No1, who found the bunker to the right of the par-three 4th green. By now, Woods shared the lead with Jiménez and Henrik Stenson. And so this wonderful slugging went on.
Even those players who had seemed knocked out either re-emerged or appeared in prominent places for the first time. Among them were Mahan, Ryan Moore, Adam Scott and Francesco Molinari. In the case of Scott, who is even par after 54 holes, success in this year's Masters means he has the mental capacity to lift the Claret Jug. If he were to do so, the Australian would also erase the pain of Royal Lytham & St Annes 12 months ago when he led by four shots after his third round but finished as runner-up to Ernie Els. This year, Scott will partner Woods in round four.
"It's a good feeling to sit here in this position, absolutely," said Scott. "I go out there tomorrow not carrying the weight of the lead or not having won a major."
Some vanished without trace. Martin Laird, who started the day two shots from the lead, had such a debacle on the 3rd that he emerged with a nine. Laird's 38 holes of sterling work were undone by Muirfield's wild stuff. He later signed for an 81.
Woods pulled out his driver for the first time in this championship on the 5th tee. It was Westwood who was celebrating by the green, after holing out from off the putting surface for an eagle. Westwood held the lead, by a stroke, on his own.
After seven, Westwood suddenly stood three clear of the field. The Englishman played a glorious tee shot into five feet and converted, and Woods went long and bogeyed. At the 8th, as Westwood missed from four feet for par, only four players lay better than even. That number never increased.
Westwood snatched back the initiative on the 14th, where his brilliant approach shot left only three feet for birdie. Woods again found sand, but this time saved par.
Westwood's bogey on 16 was a fine score, given that it arrived by virtue of a 20-feet putt. Woods's birdie attempt slipped past by the narrowest of margins. What looked a potential three-shot swing ended up no worse than Westwood tying with his playing partner.
The final error of the round came from Woods. The 37-year-old erred when finding a fairway bunker on the par-five 17th with his second shot. A careless bogey negatively defined Woods's afternoon; only time will tell if it does likewise for his tournament. "If I hit it flat and flush, it's fine, it carries," said Woods of events on the penultimate hole. "But I spun it. And you spin it against that wind, it's not going to go very far."
Thursday, Friday and Saturday were the prelude; day four will be utterly compelling.
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