KEY POINTS:
Tiger Woods, hunting his eighth victory of the year, overcame two early bogeys and a few swing problems to stretch his lead to six shots in the third round of the Target World Challenge yesterday.
Four ahead of the pack overnight, the world No 1 fired a five-under
67 at Sherwood Country Club for an 18-under total of 198.
Although not matching his blistering form of the previous day when he set a course record 62, he carded seven birdies in pursuit of his fourth title in the elite 16-man tournament he hosts.
Playing partner Jim Furyk, three off the pace for much of the day, slipped back with a double bogey at the par-three 15th on his way to a 69 and second place.
Masters champion Zach Johnson also carded a 69 to lie third at 11-under, one ahead of Swede Henrik Stenson, who fired a best-of-the-day 65.
"I didn't hit the golf ball as well as I did yesterday but I made some nice putts and up-and-downs," Woods said after signing off with a 2.4m birdie putt at the last. "Overall, it was a nice day to kind of get through it and actually increase the lead. Rounds like yesterday are so much easier on you. Today I had to focus, had to make sure I missed it in the correct spots."
Fast-starting Woods, playing his first tournament since the Presidents Cup in September, birdied the first two holes on a second successive day of calm weather.
The 13-time major winner coolly rolled in a 4.5m putt at the par-four first before enjoying a slice of good fortune with his drive at the par-five second. He pulled his tee shot well left of the fairway, his ball striking a young boy above the right hip before bouncing back into the rough.
"Do you want to be my agent?" a smiling Woods asked the boy after shaking his hand in gratitude.
After laying up safely with an iron on to the fairway, the 31-year-old American struck a superb wedge to within half a metre of the flag to set up a tap-in birdie.
Woods offset birdies at the fifth and sixth with bogeys at the fourth and eighth for his lead to be trimmed to three strokes going into the back nine.
However, he picked up further shots at the 10th, where he hit an exquisite low, hooking approach to 30cm, and at the par-five 11th, where he drained a 4.5m putt, to forge four ahead. World No 3 Furyk stayed in touch with five birdies in the first 13 holes and appeared likely to get within two of the lead when Woods faced a 9m par-saving putt at the 14th after bunkering his approach.
In typical fashion, though, Woods holed the putt to preserve his three-shot cushion.
"What a way to keep a round going," Furyk said.
"He's strong willed and finds a way to get the ball in the hole when he's in trouble."
Furyk, who had played rock steady golf for most of the day, then stumbled when he found water off the tee at the 15th on the way to a double bogey five, giving Woods unexpected breathing space going into the final round today.
- REUTERS