Azinger surge gives field hope

Paul Azinger showed the pack chasing Tiger Woods that hope remained with a blistering start to his final round at St Andrews.

Paul Azinger showed the pack chasing Tiger Woods that hope remained with a blistering start to his final round at St Andrews.

With Woods holding a six-shot lead over nearest challengers David Duval and Thomas Bjorn, it appeared a foregone conclusion that the world number one would be receiving the Claret Jug this evening.

But Azinger, second to Nick Faldo at Muirfield in 1987, shrugged off overcast conditions and freshening breeze to show what was possible on the Old Course.

The 1993 USPGA champion made six birdies in the first seven holes, only parring the second, to suddenly leap into a tie for fourth place at nine under par.

Also havng a good round was David Love III, whose rollercoaster championship saw him shoot 74s on days one and three, and a course record-tying 66 on the second.

He was seven under by the 13th hole, five under for the round.