Champion Woods stays one ahead at Hoylake

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

HOYLAKE, England, July 23 (Reuters) Title holder Tiger Woods maintained his one-shot lead after parring the opening hole in the British Open final round today.

As he has done all week, the world number one split the fairway off the tee with a two-iron, struck his second shot pin high and two-putted to stay at 13 under.

Chasing his 11th major title, the 30-year-old American has won all 10 times he has led going into the final round.

Playing partner Sergio Garcia, bidding for his maiden victory at the game's highest level, sank a six-footer to save par at the first and remain tied for second place with Ernie Els.

South African Els, the 2002 champion at Muirfield, parred the first two holes to stay in the hunt for his first title in seven months.

Americans Jim Furyk and Chris DiMarco both faltered early on, Furyk dropping shots at the first two holes to slip back to nine under and DiMarco bogeying the first to lie at 11 under.

DiMarco, joint second overnight with Garcia and Els, was level with Japan's Hideto Tanihara, one under for the day after four holes in breezy conditions at Hoylake.

American Sean O'Hair birdied the last three holes for a 67 to hold the lead in the clubhouse at seven-under 281.

The 2005 PGA Tour rookie of the year, who tied for 15th on his British Open debut at St. Andrews 12 months ago, began the day 11 strokes off the pace.

SILVER MEDAL Norwegian teenager Marius Thorp won this year's silver medal as top amateur, holing a 25-footer to birdie the last for a 71.

The 18-year-old from Oslo finished on even-par 288, seven strokes ahead of Italy's Edoardo Molinari.

Molinari, the only other amateur who made the halfway cut, closed with a 75.

Thorp mixed three birdies with two bogeys to finish level with playing partner and five-times Open champion Tom Watson.

''This is fantastic,'' said the Norwegian, who booked his place at Hoylake by winning last year's European amateur championship.

''I played really well all four days and today I played with one of the greatest legends in the game. It's been a perfect day.'' Watson was impressed by Thorp.

''I think he's a very good player and he's fearless with the putter,'' the 56-year-old American said. ''I remember those days.

God I wish I could do that now.'' REUTERS PM RN1948

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