Golf: Nervous DiMarco waits for Tiger to pounce

Tiger Woods

AUGUSTA - The US Masters, almost back on track after three days of weather disruptions, was poised for a thrilling finish with three-time winner Tiger Woods hot on the heels of leader Chris DiMarco.

A marathon day at Augusta National, which began in damp, overcast conditions and ended in glorious evening sunshine, produced magical shotmaking by the game's best players and a golden Masters farewell by golfing great Jack Nicklaus.

American Ryder Cup player DiMarco, who tied for sixth at Augusta last year, was four strokes clear after nine holes in the third round yesterday when fading light halted play.

The players will resume the third round early today, with the final round to follow.

Chasing his first major title since the 2002 US Open, Woods was alone in second place, with Denmark's Thomas Bjorn a further stroke back in third at eight under.

Both players had also completed nine holes.

World No 1 Vijay Singh, the Masters champion in 2000, had got to five under after eight holes but bogeyed the ninth to slip back into a tie for fourth - level with Australians Rod Pampling, after 12, and Mark Hensby, after nine.

The leaderboard also featured defending champion Phil Mickelson, after 11 holes, in a share of seventh at three under with 2003 winner Mike Weir, who had three holes to play.

But the first of the year's four major championships appears likely to be decided between the pacesetting DiMarco and and a rejuvenated Woods.

"I'm certainly nervous out there," said DiMarco, who has produced three top-12 finishes at Augusta since making his debut there in 2001.

"I'm sure Tiger is even a little nervous himself. That's what we are all striving for, to be in that position and have the adrenaline going and see how you react.

"I'm going to go out and have fun tomorrow. I'm hitting the ball really good and I'm putting really good."

DiMarco, co-leader after round one, had fired a second successive 67 to forge four shots clear when the thunderstorm-delayed second round was finally completed earlier yesterday.

He maintained that form in round three, reeling off birdies at the second, seventh and eighth holes before finishing the day at 13 under par.

Woods, however, produced the best form yesterday.

He charged up the leaderboard with a superb six-under 66 in the second round, the lowest score of the week, and then birdied five of his first nine holes after teeing off in round three.

An outward nine of five-under 31 left him at nine under for the tournament, and 12 under for the 26 holes he played yesterday.

Woods, 29, appeared close to his dominant form of 2000, when he clinched the last three majors of the year.

"I've just got to set myself up," said Woods, champion at Augusta in 1997, 2001 and 2002. "We've got a long way to go, 27 holes, and I've just got to be patient and plod my way along."

Earlier, 50 players made the halfway cut at four-over 148.

In a bid by organisers to get the tournament back on track, they were then sent out in twosomes with a two-tee start for the third round.

Six-time Masters champion Nicklaus, who was one of those to miss out, announced he would not be returning to play at Augusta National.

"This golf course is too hard for me," Nicklaus, 65, said.

"Father time has a tendency to do that to all of us.

"It's no fun to go out there and hack it around and struggle to try to figure out some way to break 80.

"That's never been the way I've operated, and I don't believe that I should be out there."

Although round three has spilled over into the fourth day, today's forecast is favourable, with mainly sunshine expected.

- REUTERS