ST. ANDREWS, Scotland, July 15 (UPI) -- Tiger Woods posted three birdies on the front nine and finished with a five-under 67 to take four-stroke after two rounds at the British Open.
Colin Montgomerie fired a 66 to head into the third round at 7-under 137. Seven players -- Scott Verplank, Brad Faxon, Trevor Immelman, Vijay Singh, Robert Allenby, Peter Lonard and Jose Maria Olazabal -- are tied for third at 6-under.
Ernie Els, who won the title in 2002 and lost in a playoff last year, shot a five-under 67 and is now in the hunt at three-under-par 141.
Jack Nicklaus, who won the British Open three times, shot even-par 72 Friday and failed to make the cut for the final two rounds. Nicklaus said he is retiring from competitive golf after this tournament.
