Davis Love birdied his final three holes yesterday to grab a one-stroke lead at a $3 million Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines while Tiger Woods lies six strokes off the pace. Love, the 1996 winner, fired a seven-under par 65 to lead Phil Mickelson by one stroke.

Woods, 24, won this event last year with some late-round heroics. He shot a course-record 10-under 62 on Saturday and had a 65 on the Sunday, eagling the final hole for the victory and a tournament record 22-under 266 total.

Meanwhile, Ireland's Keith Nolan started brightly enough with an opening two under par 70.

Nolan began his round with a bogey five but came straight back with birdies at the second, fifth and sixth before losing another shot at the seventh. However, having parred the eight he then went on to birdie the ninth to be two under for the front nine. He birdied again at the 10th to go to three under and playing the second last he was looking at a possible 68. However, he dropped a shot at the 17th and then overshot the green at the final hole and could only make par. "I bogeyed 17 with a nine iron in my hand. I guess I just made a bad swing," said Nolan after signing his scorecard. "At 18 I hit the wrong club. I'm disappointed but happy as well. I'll just try and do it again tomorrow."