Despite coming in with a 69, Woods's failure to put the squeeze on the notoriously fragile Sergio Garcia means the Spaniard and a cast of other hopefuls have an all too rare opportunity in the Tiger era of supping from the Claret Jug later today. If America's Steve Stricker will be fancying his chances following a superb course record-equalling 64, and if the likes of KJ Choi, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Chris DiMarco and Jim Furyk are in the shake-up, the list of support players behind Garcia includes both Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington.

While the two Irish representatives will need help from Garcia if one of them is to become the first home winner of a major since 1947, at least they moved in the right direction, both carding 68s.

The tournament has been a sort of redemption for McGinley following a dismal year during which his world ranking has fallen to 170.

After a highly impressive opening round, he reverted to type with an underwhelming performance on Friday.

However, yesterday he was back to his best and at one stage had closed the gap to three shots on the leader.

What neither he nor Harrington can afford to do is to play too cautiously as there have been no signs as yet of Garcia being adversely affected by nerves as he closes in on his first major title.

The stage appears set for the gifted 27-year-old, who has spent his career in Woods's shadow, to finally emerge into the spotlight. Bedevilled for so long by putting lapses, he recently switched to a belly putter, and the results have been instantaneous. When the Open was last played here, he left in tears, but today there could be tears of joy. And in a week when one great Spanish player, Seve Ballesteros, decided to call it quits, his timing would be impeccable.