Tiger has victory, and history, in his sights

The world number 1 tips his hat to fans as he walks off the 18th green after the 3rd round of the PGA Championship today. Picture / Reuters

MEDINAH, Illinois - Twice winner Tiger Woods is perfectly poised to win his 12th career golf major at the 88th PGA Championship - and has the weight of history on his side.

He ended an electrifying day of shot-making at a receptive Medinah tied for the lead with Briton Luke Donald and has never lost a major from the front going into the final round.

The world No 1 equalled the course record with a seven-under-par 65 and remains red-hot favourite to win his fourth major in his last eight starts.

"I've hit the ball well, I really have, and it turned out to be a good day," Woods said after finishing level with Donald at 14-under 202.

"I got lucky at the first hole, where I made a big putt, and stuffed it on the second hole and made birdie there. I was off and running from there."

Woods, who won an emotional victory at last month's British Open following the death of his father in May, has never lost a major title when leading or holding share of the lead after 54 holes.

"His numbers are obviously impressive and that's why he's the best player in the world right now," said Englishman Donald after firing a bogey-free 66.

"He knows that just playing his game is going to be good enough usually. He usually lets other players lose to him.

"You know, he doesn't want to ruin that record and maybe I can use that to my advantage and just kind of sneak by without anyone noticing and pick up the trophy tomorrow."

Woods, bidding for his sixth title this year in 13 starts worldwide, relishes knowing what the players ahead of him are doing.

"It's nice to be in the last group where if the guys make birdies, which you know they are going to do, you have the same opportunity to make birdies on those same holes," the 30-year-old American said.

"You can react and make birdies which in most majors, especially the US Open, that's not the case."

Although Medinah's 7561-yard (6914m) No 3 Course is the longest in major history, it has provided a birdie-fest this week. This morning, its greens were particularly receptive to shot-making after being softened by overnight rain.

"With it being this soft and with the par fives pretty reachable, generally it means that it's going to be a tightly bunched leaderboard," Woods added.

"But I've always preferred the winning score is in double digits. If I can shoot one under par per nine holes for all 72 holes, then eight under par I think is a very good way to play.

"But you'd be run over if you did that this week."

Should Woods lift the Wanamaker Trophy for the third time tomorrow morning (NZ time), he would move past fellow-American Walter Hagen in the all-time major listings with only Jack Nicklaus (18) ahead of him.

- REUTERS