After two scrambling pars early, the 14-time major winner birdied the third and, just when it looked as if he might stumble on the fourth following a wild tee shot, the 37-year-old produced some of his old magic.
Stuck behind a tree, Woods carved out a curving long approach shot to just short of the green and then duly chipped in from 12m for a second-straight birdie and a five-shot buffer.
He increased the lead to six with a regulation two-putt birdie on the par-5 sixth to put him in the box seat for a 75th US Tour win. Only Sam Snead, with 82, has more victories.
Woods has won 49 of the 53 times when he has held at least a share of the third-round lead and failed to convert just once in the past eight years.
Aaron Baddeley was the pick of the Australians at five-under-par in 25th place through eight holes and the Victorian has an 8m eagle putt when play resumes.
Baddeley, whose 68 was the best third-round score, is trying to make a run up the leaderboard to boost his world ranking points and a possible return to the World Golf Championship Match Play event next month.
Sitting at 86th in the world, Badde-ley needs some good results to get into the top 64.
"It was a good third round this morning and, although I made a few soft bogeys this afternoon, I'm really pleased with how I played today," he said.
-AAP
