Woods has much to do to catch Garcia at Carnoustie

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland, July 21 (Reuters) Tiger Woods is likely to be battling against adverse weather plus the fiercely tough Carnoustie links to claw back Sergio Garcia's seven-shot lead over him in the British Open third round today.

The world No 1, chasing a third title running, has 12 majors behind him including the last two Opens but will have had few tougher days than Friday when he scrambled to a three-over-par 74 in an increasingly stiff breeze.

It left him with a mountain to climb over the weekend to catch Spaniard Garcia who leads on six under par having added a level-par 71 to Thursday's opening 65.

Garcia has a two-stroke lead over South Korean KJ Choi who has been playing superbly controlled golf from tee to green.

Choi, who won two of his last three events on the PGA Tour, fired a 69 on Friday.

One shot further behind are Garcia's compatriot Miguel Angel Jimenez and Canada's 2003 US Masters winner Mike Weir, who had a second-round best 68.

Showers and heavy rain are forecast for the area today.

REUTERS SAM RK1014