Australian Richard Green bolted through the British Open field to fire a course record-equalling 64 in Sunday's final round, adding to the pressure mounting on leader Sergio Garcia. The 36-year-old from Melbourne suffered his only bogey of the day at the difficult last hole but that was more than offsh.
Garcia, facing a test of nerve as much as skill after starting the day with a three-shot lead at nine under, was still on that mark after five holes. The Spaniard converted from five feet at the third but a drive on to the bank of a bunker at the 415-yard fifth cost him the shot he had gained.
Garcia had a big opportunity to move back to 10 under at the 578-yard sixth but screwed his six-foot birdie chance four feet past and did well to convert the return.
He was aiming to become the first European to win a major since Briton Paul Lawrie claimed this title here in 1999. For once, Tiger Woods was not posing a threat.
The world No 1 was gunning for a third consecutive Open crown but his hopes disappeared for good on the 11th when he left an attempted escape from a bunker in the sand. Woods's bogey five sent him back to level par for the tournament.
GOLDEN CHANCE:
American Steve Stricker, second overnight, ran into trouble on the fifth, allowing a straightforward approach to leak into a greenside bunker and he took three more to get down for a bogey.
He missed another golden chance for birdie from around four feet on the long sixth to stay six under with 2002 winner Ernie Els, who went to the turn in a three-under 33.
The big South African was off to a flyer as he sank a 10-footer at the third to go with another birdie the hole before. Els then conjured a magical chip over a downward slope at the long sixth to close the gap further on Garcia.
Australian left-hander Green, a twice-winner on the European Tour, made the most of a red-hot putter to set the clubhouse pace on five under (279) as rain clouds began to circle Carnoustie again.
Four birdies in an outward 32 were followed by another at the short 13th and he then rolled in a 40-footer to eagle the 514-yard 14th. With an Open record-equalling 63 in his sights plus a Carnoustie course record, Green drove into rough from the 18th tee and had to lay up before missing a nine-foot putt for par. "Hopefully this is a really good target because it's a tough course and anything can happen out there," Green told the BBC.
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