TIGER Woods lost some of his magic yesterday and allowed Ryder Cup colleague Stewart Cink and England's David Howell to cut his lead from five shots to two in the American Express World Championship at The Grove near Watford.

However, as Woods' round ended it was Australian Adam Scott and fellow American Jim Furyk who were closest to the world number one who found a second wind on the back nine to open up a six-shot lead The world number one, also this week's defending champion, followed seven opening pars with a threeputt bogey on the eighth while Howell birdied the first and fifth and Cink picked up shots on the sixth and ninth.

Woods' slip-up came as no real surprise really as he had already missed birdie chances of seven, six and nine feet over the opening stretch of the third round.

Seeking a sixth consecutive strokeplay victory - and still favourite for the title with his phenomenal record as a front-runner - he was 14 under par, with European Order of Merit-chasing Howell and Cink 12 under.

Americans Furyk and Brett Quigley were one further back along with Australian Adam Scott.

Padraig Harrington birdied the second and third to be joint second at that point, but Howell's Ryder Cup teammate then three-putted the fifth and dropped another shot on the eighth after pulling his approach left of the green.

Howell could have been even closer. After a superb up and down from a greenside bunker on the first he was on in two at the par-five second, but three-putted it for par.

But as the players faced into the back nine it was Woods who once again regained his composure to stay ahead of the improving Scott and enter the clubhouse on 19 under. He now looks certain to stretch his strokeplay winning streak even further this afternoon.