Tiger bares his claws and rolls back the years at British Open

CARNOUSTIE, United Kingdom: It had been 2,226 days since Tiger Woods had led at the end of a round at a major, but for a short while at the British Open on Saturday it looked like he might do just that going into the final day.

The 42-year-old’s much anticipated return to The Open after a two-year hiatus had been a bit of a damp squib on the first two days at Carnoustie.

However, in an event he has won three times, most recently in 2006, the old fire returned on the Scottish links to reward the packed gallery of spectators following him.

The 14-time major winner -plagued in the past eight years by personal issues and back problems -- fired in six birdies in a round only marred by a bogey at the 16th as he seeks a first tournament win in five years.

A brilliant par on the ultrad-emanding 18th -- having benefited from a huge stroke of luck -- briefly made him the clubhouse leader on five under par and he was smiling from ear to ear as he strode off the green.

He has not topped the leaderboard at the end of a round in a major since the second round of the US Open in 2012.

Ominously for his rivals, Woods admitted afterwards he hadn’t felt as good as this at a major in a long time.

“It’s been a few years since I’ve felt like this,” he said.

Woods, who insisted he had not realised he was in a share of the lead at one point, conceded at times in the past few years he had given up hope of being in such a position again.

“It certainly is possible (to win it). I’ve shown that I’ve been there close enough with a chance to win this year.

“Given what happened last few years, I didn’t know if that would ever happen again, but here I am with a chance coming Sunday in a major championship. It’s going to be fun.” — AFP