Woods maintains advantage

Wayward off the tee on both the first two holes, Woods paid for it with a bogey at the second. Woody Austin was two shots back at the time, at four under, but missed a golden opportunity to put the heat on Woods by sliding a five-foot birdie try at the fourth past the hole.

Playing alongside Woods in the final group, Stephen Ames wilted in the heat. He bogeyed his first two holes and not even a birdie at the third could revive him as he three-putted from about 25 feet on the par-five fifth for his third bogey of the day. Woods was at seven under after five holes and three shots clear of Austin.

Ernie Els carded birdies at three and five to move to three under. Ames was at two under and Kevin Sutherland was the only other player under par at one under after a birdie and six pars on his first seven holes.

Simon Dyson is the clubhouse leader at even-par 280 after a sparkling 64. Dyson carded seven birdies, including one on the last, with just one bogey to make his first appearance in the event one to remember.

"Everything just seemed to click today," Dyson said.

"It was good, one of the best days I've had for a long time."

Colin Montgomerie was three under for the round after a birdie at 15, his fifth of the day, but he faded down the stretch.

A bogey at 17 was followed by a double-bogey at 18. The stumbling finish undid all of Montgomerie's hard work as he settled for an even-par 70 and an eight-over 288 total.

Lee Westwood finished with a 68 to close at six-over 286. He carded a bogey-free round with consecutive birdies at 12 and 13.