Golf: Tiger fails to roar

Tiger Woods' chances of retaining his Australian Masters title all but evaporated in the gloomy rain at Victoria Golf Club after a third round of even par 71 dominated by poor putting yesterday.

Woods, who has not won a title since claiming the gold jacket at nearby Kingston Heath on Melbourne's sandbelt a year ago, was one-under par 212, 10 shots off the pace set by overnight leader, Australia's Adam Bland who was 11-under at the end of the day, three shots clear.

Woods was tied for 18th, but short of a miraculous recovery combined with a spectacular collapse by those above him today, the world number two will end the year without a title for the first time since he turned professional in 1996.

"I just didn't make the putts," Woods said immediately after the round. "I really struggled with getting the ball in the hole. I think I need to post a low one but unfortunately I am so far back that even if I do, I still need help from the leaders. Hopefully I can get off to a quick start and get it going."

Spain's Sergio Garcia, who vaulted up the leaderboard in windy conditions on Friday with a six-under 65, found the constant rain and chilly conditions less conducive and finished six over for his round and out of the running in a tie for 26th.

The large galleries who turned up to follow Woods had little to cheer initially as he made bogeys on the par-four second and par-four sixth holes until his tee shot on the par-three seventh when he landed the ball within 12 feet of the pin.

He duly made the birdie putt to an almighty roar, which reverberated around the course southeast of central Melbourne, from the several hundred fans huddled together under umbrellas around the green.

But the 14-time major winner gave the gallery little else to cheer until he almost chipped in from the fairway with his third shot to set up a birdie finish on the par-five 18th.

However, just two shots behind Woods, in 26th place along with Garcia, was an unfamiliar figure - New Zealand's Michael Campbell, enjoying a rare weekend's golf after comfortably making the cut.

Meanwhile South Australia's Bland continued to keep the field at bay during the third round. Bland started a rainy Saturday on 10 under par, holding a two-shot lead from playing partner, NSW's Andre Stolz, with Victoria's Daniel Gaunt a further three shots back. He fell briefly to nine-under on the back nine but finished strongly, including a birdie on the 18th, to maintain a three-stroke lead over Gaunt.

Queensland's Ryan Haller had the day's best completed round, with a five-under-par 66 to move to four under for the tournament and outright fourth spot.

- AAP