Playoff possibilities

Bjorn's tenuous lead offers little comfort headed into the final eighteen holes.

07/20/03 5:45am EDT
(OpenGolf.com)There are 13 players grouped at the head of the field within four shots of leader Thomas Bjorn and with scores swinging wildly double that number will consider they are in real contention to claim the title by tonight.

Vijay Singh, currently in third place, opened his championship account with a 75 but put himself in a position to challenge for the old silver trophy with a 69 yesterday. Two shots further back Pierre Fulke had a 10-shot swing between his first and third rounds from 77 to 67.

Nick Faldo opened with a 76 but set a new record for the lengthened course yesterday with 67.

Royal St George's has proved over the past three days that good scores made on the way out are hard to keep together on the way home and the prospect of a play-off becomes ever more likely.

In the event of a tie a four-hole play-off over the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th holes will be held. If players are still tied the title will be decided by sudden-death at the 18th hole.