Best of the day takes Weir into Carnoustie contention

Canada's Mike Weir raises his club gesturing to the crowd after hitting out of a bunker on the 18th hole during second round play at the 2007 British Open Golf Championship tournament in Carnoustie, Scotland, July 20, 2007.

CARNOUSTIE (Reuters) - Canadian Mike Weir fired the best second round of British Open on Friday to move to joint third place, three strokes behind Spanish leader Sergio Garcia.

Weir's three-under 68 was fashioned on the best back nine of the week, taking 32 shots, three-under, over the Scottish links' most formidable holes, to move to three-under 139 alongside Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez.

The 37-year-old has had to remodel his swing since winning the 2003 U.S. Masters because of back injuries and it stood up well in breezy conditions, especially coming home.

"The last nine holes I was right down the middle, every hole," Weir told reporters. "I didn't put the ball in any long grass to get into trouble, that's the key here.

"When it's windy like this you have to hit the ball solidly.

"I have a pretty good feel for it (Carnoustie). I played all four rounds in '99 and I think the more rounds you play the more you learn about all the little factors that come into play with your decisions out there."

Weir appreciated the value of the major he has already won in trying to collect another.

He added: "I've heard Tiger say it many times. When you have that in your back pocket in the last nine holes of a major it's like extra ammo."