SERGIO Garcia holds a two-shot lead after the first two rounds of The Open Championship, but reigning champion Tiger Woods will have to perform weekend miracles if he is to retain his hopes of claiming a third consecutive crown.

Garcia remains on six under par after carding a level-par round of 71 earlier today.

The Spaniard was not at his impressive best, but he showed commendable resilience to grind out a round that included two birdies and two bogeys.

Garcia enjoys a two-shot lead over South Korean KJ Choi, who produced a second successive round of 69 to leave himself on four under.

Spaniard Miguel Angel Jiminez, Canadian Mike Weir and Swede Pelle Edberg are a shot further back on three under, while world number three Jim Furyk heads a group of three players on two under par.

Lee Westwood and Alastair Forsyth are the leading Britons on one under, with Paul Broadhurst and Padraig Harrington amongst a large group of players on level par.

Woods is a shot further back after a nightmare round of 74 left him on one over par for the tournament.

The world number one was forced to take three off the tee on the first after his tee shot ended up in the Barry Burn and, while he went on to make two birdies, his round never really improved from that point onwards.

At least Woods will still be in action during the final two days, which is more than can be said for a group of illustrious names that include Colin Montgomerie, Phil Mickelson and Darren Clarke.

Graeme Storm, the North-East's only representative, is also on his way home after a dispiriting round of 80 left him on a two-round total of 16 over par.

LEADER BOARD

-6 Garcia

-4 Choi

-3 Jiminez, Weir, Edberg (14)

-2 Furyk, Weekley, Brier (14)

-1 Romero, Cabrera, Westwood, Forsyth, Goosen, Henry (15), Beem (14)