Mahan and Poulter make fast starts at Carnoustie

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland, July 21 (Reuters) American Hunter Mahan and Britain's Ian Poulter made fast starts to the British Open third round today.

The 25-year-old Mahan, who teed off alongside Australian John Senden in the second match of the day at 0840 local time, notched four birdies in the first six holes in calm but overcast conditions on the Scottish east coast.

Mahan's momentum was slowed, however, by a bogey four at the eighth as he went back to one over par for the championship, seven strokes adrift of overnight leader Sergio Garcia, who tees off at 1430.

The Californian claimed his first victory on the PGA Tour when he won last month's Travelers Championship in Connecticut.

Poulter was also three-under for his round, with three birdies in his first six holes taking him one over for the event.

The Englishman's third birdie came at the sixth where he splashed out from a greenside bunker to within five feet of the hole and sank his putt for a four.

American Ben Curtis, who won the Open at Sandwich in 2003, picked up birdies at the third and fifth to improve to two over where he was joined by Britain's Luke Donald, who made early inroads on par at the first and fourth.

World number one Tiger Woods, bidding to win a third successive claret jug, will resume on one over par when he tees off at 1215.

REUTERS BJR KP1555