The world number one, who will start the fourth round two strokes behind leader Thomas Bjorn of Denmark, has never before come from behind to win a major championship.

Woods has triumphed in seven majors since his maiden victory at the 1997 U.S. Masters, but in all eight of them he has either led or shared the lead going into the last day.

Asked if this statistic would give him added incentive at a sun-bathed Royal St George's on Sunday, he told reporters: "Not one of those things I'm really thinking about.

"I've won eight a different way, so maybe I can win this way. It's still not a bad percentage, though."

The 27-year-old American charged into contention with two eagles and a birdie in his first nine holes on Saturday, although four dropped shots on the treacherous second nine stalled his momentum.

He carded a 69 to finish at one-over-par 214, and is one of nine players separated by just three shots at the top of the leaderboard.

Sunday's final round promises to be a vintage one, with the likes of 1997 U.S. PGA champion Davis Love III (at level par) and twice major winner Vijay Singh and Spaniard Sergio Garcia (both at one over) all in the hunt.

Also at one over is in-form American Kenny Perry, who has won three times in his last four PGA Tour starts and could be the dark horse at Sandwich on the final day.

VERY TIGHT

"This is going to be like last year," said Love. There's going to be four or five guys that can win this tournament with just a few holes to go. It's going to be very tight.

"It's what you expect in a major and there's a lot of great players up there with a chance."

Ernie Els won last year's British Open in a four-way playoff at Muirfield.

Asked if he had ever been in such a logjam going into the final round at a major, Woods replied: "No, not this many.

"Maybe the Masters in 2001, there were quite a few guys there. There was Phil (Mickelson) (David) Duval, myself, (Angel) Cabrera, (Mark) Calc (Calcavecchia) -- there were a few guys within four or five shots of the lead.

"But not this close, not this many guys."

Garcia, who finished just a stroke behind the triumphant Woods in the 1999 U.S. PGA championship at Medinah, is delighted to be in the thick of things on the last day.

"This is what we practise for and it feels good to be up there," he said. "I feel confident and just hope that I have a good start and I am able to keep it going."

Garcia is scheduled to tee off at 1300 GMT in the final round in the company of Perry. Woods and Singh, one group behind, are set to start at 1310, with the final pair of Bjorn and Love a further 10 minutes later.

Weather forecasts for the day expect conditions to remain sunny and breezy with a light south-westerly, the prevailing wind at Sandwich, blowing.