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CNN Live Saturday

Spotlight Is on Tiger Woods at the British Open

Aired July 20, 2002 - 12:45   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In sports, the spotlight is once again on Tiger Woods as he competes today for Britain's most coveted golf title. The third round action takes place in Scotland, and that's where ITN's Graham Miller filed this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GRAHAM MILLER, ITN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He is as big as a pop star and already a golfing legend, yet Tiger Woods is only 26 and believes he can still improve. Inevitably, he is the hottest of favorites in Muirfield this week, and after winning the Masters title and the U.S. Open, victory at the Open would take him three-quarters of the way toward golf's first ever Grand Slam in one season. Even the others believe the Open is Tiger's for the taking, and that they're really playing for second place. But the man himself says this championship isn't like that.

TIGER WOODS, GOLFER: This Open championship is very historic. It's the oldest championship that we have, and one that every player wants to win. If I don't win here this year, I can always come back until I'm 65, at least.

MILLER: Security is strict for his first appearance in Britain since September the 11th, but the golfing reality is that Tiger is just uncatchable.

WOODS: It's not easy. People make it like it's an easy thing to do. It's not. You have to go out there and have your game peak at the right time and you need to get some great breaks. And so far this year, I have got some really nice breaks and I've capitalized on them and has played well on top of that.

MILLER (on camera): Talk to anybody here and they'll all say the same thing: It will be won by the world number one, Tiger Woods. And should it not happen, it will be down to one thing, and one thing alone, the Scottish weather.

Graham Miller, ITV News, Muirfield.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Rain and wind are the order of the day in Scotland, as usual. The British Open is indeed living up to its name. The tournament is wide open, and CNN's Patrick Snell is there. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATRICK SNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, conditions here at Muirfield have changed dramatically. High winds, heavy rain and, of course, high scores. Now, we have been able to come inside is and take respite, but the golfers haven't. Among the sufferers, the world number one Tiger Woods who is having a miserable time out there. He bogeyed the first, he bogeyed the fourth, and he double-bogeyed the fifth to put himself back at level par for this tournament.

And such was his frustration on the fifth hole when he put a routine fairway approach into yet more rough, swinging his club furiously to vent his frustration. His mind-set is not a good one at the moment, and he's certainly not enjoying himself out there at Muirfield. He has a lot to do if he's to climb back up this leader board. Among others, he's chasing the South African Ernie Ells (ph) and his fellow Americans Duffey Woldorf (ph) and Bob Tway (ph).

Island's Padwick Harrington (ph) had moved to seven under, proving that Tiger has so much to do if he is to try and win his third straight major of this calendar year.

At the British Open golf in Muirfield, Scotland, I'm Patrick Snell.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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