Woods `Third Straight Win, Just around Corner`

Will Tiger Woods (USA) accomplish his third straight victory with the explosive shots signaling his resurrection? Or will Jim Furyk (USA), who has one of the most unconventional swings on TOUR, obstruct Woods`s record-building finish?

In the third round of the World Gold Championship, NEC Invitational (total prize of $5 million) at Firestone Country Club (South Course, par 70), Akron, Ohio, recording 4-under-par 66, Woods ranked in the outright second place with a 11-under-par 199 for three rounds, two shots behind the leader Furyk.

Woods has scored under 67 for seven straight rounds at Firestone CC, boasting of his merit in this golf course. And moreover he had a record that he won all five tournaments, which was held in Ohio State for last three years. This shows the highly plausible possibility that he may turn the table in the final round. Woods earned the third consecutive title in the Memorial tournament last June, and if he wins this tournament, he can establish a rare record to win two three-straight-wins in a season.

However, his competitor in the champion group in the final round, Furyk, is unyielding enemy who grabbed the title in the Mercedes Championships this year, which invited only the title winners of the PGA tour.

Meanwhile, tied for the second place with Woods throughout the second round, Phil Mickelson double-bogeyed on the 16th (par 5), taking a penalty with a terrible mistake, which dropped him out of the leader group. Mickelson lifted his ball from the rough to identify it without telling his playing partner, Furyk, so that he had to take a one-stroke penalty.

`White Shark` Greg Norman (Australia), who was a first round leader, shot a 4-over-par to finish the round sharing the 23rd place with a three round even-par 210. And David Duval (USA) also fell to the 23rd place with two-over-par 72.

Ahn Young-Sik ysahn@donga.com