FOR the second time this season Brian Davis was in position to challenge for the tournament lead after three rounds of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Florida but, as Tiger Woods collected the trophy from the veteran Open champion for his se

FOR the second time this season Brian Davis was in position to challenge for the tournament lead after three rounds of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Florida but, as Tiger Woods collected the trophy from the veteran Open champion for his seventh straight victory, the former Herts county player slumped to a tie for 57th place

Davis, now full time on the US Tour, had opened with a five over par 75, but then hit form with rounds of 64, 68 to be only three shots off the lead going into the final day. Then he met disaster, taking 77 for a four over par 284 as Woods holed from 24ft on the final green for 66 and 10 under par 270. Just above Davis in 48th place after a final 69 came Herts colleague, Ian Poulter

In eight events played, Davis has made four cuts, his best previous finishes being in the Honda Classic, tied seventh after leading at halfway, and AT&T Pebble Beach, tied 61st. Prizemoney at Bay Hill was $13,363.