Woods on birdie hunt to cut Garcia's lead

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland, July 21 (Reuters) Tiger Woods went stalking birdies as he attempted to cut British Open leader Sergio Garcia's seven-shot advantage over him in the third round today.

The world No 1 is chasing a hat-trick of Open victories, a feat achieved only once in the last 125 years by Australian Peter Thomson (1954-56).

Woods did not help his cause with a bogey five at the second but birdies at the fourth and fifth and another at the seventh sent him moving purposely up the leaderboard to turn in a two-under 34, five adrift of late starter Garcia.

Woods's surge, however, was somewhat put in the shade by fellow American Steve Stricker who collected no less than five birdies in a sizzling outward 31.

That moved Stricker to four under overall, leader on the course.

Stricker, 40, has never won a major and his Open best is tied 22nd at Royal Lytham in 1996, but he has a solid record on the PGA Tour and is a three-times winner including the 2001 Accenture Match Play Championship.

Woods and Stricker were not the only early starters to make progress in damp but relatively benign conditions with tougher, wetter weather forecast for later.

US Masters champion Zach Johnson was one to benefit with a 68 which took him to one over while Britain's Justin Rose gained six birdies in a 67 to go one under.

Reuters SSC RN2008