NEW YORK, 24 January 2005 — Tiger Woods charged into a share of the third round lead at the Buick Invitational on Saturday, carding birdies on two of his opening five holes before play was suspended due to darkness.

As fog rolled in off the Pacific disrupting play at California’s Torrey Pines Country Club for a second consecutive day, Woods kept his focus on a difficult day to join overnight leader U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman at 14-under-par.

Despite completing just three holes of his third round, Lehman’s three-shot advantage had disappeared with a bogey on his third hole.

Australia’s Peter Lonard and Britain’s Luke Donald sit three shots back at 11-under with South Africa’s Ernie Els, Dudley Hart and Kevin Sutherland one stroke further adrift.

Due to two delays created by fog, none of the field was able to finish their third rounds, which will be completed on Sunday morning, followed by the final round. A brief break in the haze had allowed organisers to complete the second round on Saturday morning and start third round play with officials sending golfers off both the first and 10th tees.

However, before the first players had completed five holes the foghorn sounded, sending golfers back to the clubhouse for the first time.

“I’m hitting well, stroking it well, you just have to hope the fog goes away,” said Lehman, searching for his first Tour win in almost five years.

Earlier, Woods, a two-time winner here, closed the final hole of his second round in style, carding a birdie to finish at nine-under 63. Following yet another delay, the world number two, began his third round in spectacular fashion with birdies on his first two holes followed by three straight pars.

After struggling through his opening two rounds, world number one Vijay Singh began to display the early season form that carried him to victory at the Sony Open last weekend, going four-under through 12 holes to move into contention at eight-under. However, three-time winner Phil Mickelson, who is making his season debut here, continued to have trouble finding his game and stumbled to four-over-par through 11 holes.

Clark Wins Second South African Open Title

In Durban, local favorite Tim Clark won the South African Open for the second time in three years yesterday when he carded a final round 66 for a total of 15-under-par 273.

The 29-year-old South African finished six shots ahead of compatriot Charl Schwartzel and France’s Gregory Havret, who returned rounds of 68 and 69 respectively.

Clark, who started the round in a four-way share of the lead on nine-under par, recorded six birdies as his nearest challengers fell away, to claim the $147,300 first prize. In 2002, Clark won his maiden European Tour title at the same venue the last time Durban Country Club hosted the event. He repeated the win after previous rounds of 68, 71 and 68.

Clark displayed his intimate knowledge of the difficult course he has visited since he was 14 by recording just two bogeys and one double bogey over 72 holes.

He played the last 45 holes in a bogey-free 11-under par and was the only player in both the third and the fourth rounds not to record a bogey.