Sport - Golf

Tiger on the prowl

HEIDELBERG (GERMANY) MAY 19. Tiger Woods turned up the heat with a blazing 64 at the Deutsche Bank Open on Sunday and goes into Monday's final round just one shot behind Colin Montgomerie.

Montgomerie fears a recurring back problem may mar his chance of bettering the world number one, despite also excelling with a 65.

British 21-year-old Justin Rose, with three titles already this year, joined the spectacular day's scoring with a 66. That left him three strokes off the lead and two in front of another Briton, Greg Owen.

After almost matching Woods blow for blow to surge to 17-under-par 199, Montgomerie, who twice called for treatment during the round, said: ``If I can get some flexibility into my back, I have a chance of competing, but if I can't, then I can't win. I honestly thought I wasn't going to be able to continue after the third hole.''

The 38-year-old Scot called for his physiotherapist Dale Richardson to administer treatment at the sixth and 10th holes for the back injury which first manifested itself this year in Australia in February.

Woods, the defending champion, mounted a spectacular start, opening with an eagle and storming to five-under-par after five.

Refusing to bow, Montgomerie picked up his own eagle at the third to go with seven birdies. But while, Montgomerie made two bogeys, calling for his physio after each, Woods was blemish-free, coming within a stroke of his third round score last year before going on to win by four shots.

Although the stage is set for a dramatic shoot-out, Montgomerie insisted he would play his own game if he was fit enough, and not try to take on Woods directly.

``I've got to do what I do best and that's to hit fairways and greens,'' said the seven-times European number one. If you try to do what he does you'll lose and I'm no different, I'll lose as well.''

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