Golf-Woods fumes at slow pace of play at Wachovia Championship

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, May 6 (Reuters) Tiger Woods lamented the slow pace of play after barely completing his third round at the Wachovia Championship yesterday.

Woods, playing with Vijay Singh in the final pairing, finished the 18th hole in semi-darkness, a few minutes past 8pm local time at Quail Hollow.

The start of play was delayed by two hours due to nearby lightning, so Woods and Singh did not tee off until 3.40pm.

He could not understand why it took more than four hours, 20 minutes to play 18 holes, especially on a course well designed for walking, without many long distances between holes.

''That's just ridiculous, in twosomes,'' said the world number one, who bogeyed the last two holes to finish a shot behind leader Rory Sabbatini of South Africa.

''I didn't think we were going to finish and Vijay didn't either, but we got it in somehow.

''It's like playing under caution all day. No-one ever gave us a green to go. That was the way it was and we had to deal with it.'' But at least Woods was grateful to finish, because otherwise he would have had to return at the crack of dawn today.

''It would not be a good thing to have to get up at 4.30 or 5 o'clock to play one or two holes,'' he continued.

Now, at least, he can have a leisurely morning, if he so desires, before starting the final round at 1.25pm.

REUTERS BJR ND0942