When darkness halted play in Saturday's third round at the Masters Tournament, Chris DiMarco was determinedly trying to run away from the field, while Tiger Woods was doggedly giving chase.

What a difference a night makes.

Once play resumed Sunday morning, it didn't take long for Woods to have a reversal of fortunes and DiMarco to have a strong case of dj vu.

With both players resuming their rounds on No. 10 - Woods in the middle of the fairway and DiMarco on the tee - it wouldn't be long before the tournament would take a dramatic turn. Four holes to be exact.

That stretch - from Nos. 10 to No. 13 - saw a six-shot swing, with Woods continuing a record-tying consecutive birdie streak that hit seven while DiMarco dropped two strokes. Woods, at 9-under par and trailing DiMarco by four shots when play stopped Saturday, now led by two over the University of Florida alumnus.

By the end of the round, Woods, who reached 13-under par before dropping two shots heading in, had upped his lead over DiMarco to three shots. On the way to the 54-hole lead, Woods made or equaled several Masters records:

- Tied his 1997 record for low middle rounds (13-under par) with 66 and 65.

- Tied Steve Pate for most consecutive birdies at seven.

- Set the record for most birdies (16) in consecutive rounds.

DiMarco, who nearly tied a record when he went 44 straight holes with par or better (Stuart Appleby had 50), likely had flashbacks from 2001 when he led the Masters after 18 and 36 holes only to have Woods blow by him.

In the three times that Woods led after 54 holes at the Masters - 1997, 2001, 2002 - he ended his day by being fitted for a green jacket.

Reach Mike Wynn at 823-3218 or mike.wynn@augustachronicle.com.