Golf: Immelman, Woods charge as Dimarco stays ahead

AUGUSTA, Georgia - South Africa's Trevor Immelman reeled off four consecutive birdies to vault up the leaderboard in the US Masters third round as Tiger Woods made an early move of his own.

The 25-year-old Immelman, who teed off at the 10th hole, picked up shots on 13, 15, 16, 17 and 18 to reach the turn in five-under 31.

That left him seven shots behind tournament leader Chris DiMarco with Augusta National Golf Club bathed in late afternoon sunshine.

With hardly a breath of wind on the third day of the year's first major championship, the game's best players all began to take advantage.

American Ryder Cup player DiMarco, whose second successive 67 earned him a four-stroke lead when the weather-delayed second round was finally completed earlier on Saturday, birdied the par-five second to move to 11 under for the tournament.

His playing partner Thomas Bjorn of Denmark had birdied the first to close briefly to within three strokes of the lead before Woods and defending champion Phil Mickelson signalled their own intentions.

Three-time winner Woods, whose last major victory came at the 2002 US Open, birdied the second and third to get to six under.

Left-hander Mickelson, playing two groups ahead, picked up shots at the par-four third and par-four fifth to lie at four under.

Bjorn, however, then holed a 15-foot birdie putt at the third to move to eight under, just three adrift of DiMarco.

Saturday, traditionally known as 'Moving Day' at the majors, was living up to its reputation.

Earlier, DiMarco moved four strokes clear of the field with a charging Woods in hot pursuit after completing a 36-hole aggregate of 10-under 134.

Bjorn finished alone in second place, after a matching 67, with Woods third after shooting a best-of-the day 66.

World number one Vijay Singh, after a 73, was a further shot back in a share of fourth, with Mickelson tied for sixth at two under having carded a level-par 72.

"It went pretty well out there, although the pace of play was very slow," said 36-year-old DiMarco.

"Putting was the key for me today, period. I made a couple of good par putts and to turn at three under was nice."

Eight-time major winner Woods charged up the leaderboard with five birdies in his first 13 holes before faltering with a three-putt bogey at the par-four 14th.

However, the former world number one hit back with further birdies at the par-five 15th and par-four 17th to close to within six shots of the lead.

"That was a nice turnaround," said 29-year-old Woods, who opened with a 74. "I hit the ball better and put it in the right position to make putts.

"That three-putt was the only disappointing thing all day.

"I saw Chris was playing well but anything can happen here. You've just to get yourself in position."

Fifty players made the halfway cut and, in a bid by organisers to get the tournament back on track by Sunday morning, were then sent out in twosomes with a two-tee start for the third round.

Although round three may spill over into the fourth day, the Sunday forecast is favourable with mainly sunshine expected.

- REUTERS