Woods bids to seize early control on Friday

HOYLAKE, England, July 21 (Reuters) World number one Tiger Woods and surprise leader Graeme McDowell will have an opportunity to stamp their authority on the British Open early in today's second round.

Holder Woods rammed in a 20-foot putt for a last-hole eagle to register a five-under-par 67 yesterday.

The 30-year-old American said the changing winds at Hoylake had forced him to alter his strategy.

''It (the wind) made a complete switch out there,'' Woods told reporters.

''I guess when the tides come in the winds change so I had to alter my game plan quite a bit. It is just the nature of this course, it changes all day long.'' Woods, playing in the same three-ball as Britain's Nick Faldo and Shingo Katayama of Japan, is due to tee off at 0858 local time today.

McDowell, who carded an opening 66, begins his second round even earlier at 0747.

The 26-year-old from Northern Ireland, who booked his place at the third major of the year in last month's European leg of international qualifying at Sunningdale, was unfazed at seeing his name on top of the leaderboard.

''It excites me, it is fantastic,'' said McDowell.

''I know I am playing well enough, I just want to be up there on Sunday and enjoy myself coming down the last hole. It would be pretty nice.'' Also one stroke behind McDowell were Britons Greg Owen and Anthony Wall, Japan's Keiichiro Fukabori and Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain.

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