Tiger's score was lower the day before and even lower the day before that. But this tournament isn't heading for lower. The course, Pinehurst No.2, has been the enemy and winner for three days. There's no reason to think normal is just around this last corner. Payne Stewart, the leader, is one stroke under par.
Tiger is one over, tied for third.
The leader board is a rush-hour crowd, eight golfers within five strokes of Stewart. This is Tiger's fifth Open and he has never been closer. To finish well today, to win, to get his name on the back page, to ignore the pressure of being this close, this late, Tiger will have to forget that he's not quite six months past his 23rd birthday. Tiger hasn't been around forever, but after winning the Masters at 21, and signing with every major corporation in America, it must seem that way. He is our only Tiger.