Tiger Woods, aiming for a seventh consecutive victory on the PGA
Tour, moved ominously into the title hunt at the Buick Invitational
on Saturday.
The world number one, seven off the pace at the start of the
day, fired a three-under-par 69 in the third round to finish two
shots off the lead at Torrey Pines.
PGA Tour rookie Brandt Snedeker missed a six-foot birdie putt at
the last and had to settle for a 74 and a share of the lead at
11-under 205 with Australia's Andrew Buckle (68).
American Kevin Sutherland carded a 70 to lie third at 10 under,
one stroke ahead of Woods and fellow Americans Troy Matteson (69),
Charles Howell III (73) and Bill Haas (72).
"I feel like things have progressed and got better each day,"
Woods told reporters after making three birdies in a blemish-free
display over the tough South Course.
"I've put myself right there in contention with a chance
tomorrow. Hopefully I can stay out of the bunkers and make a few
putts.
The 31-year-old American, who salvaged par after finding
greenside bunkers on 15 and 16, is back in action for the first
time since winning the Target World Challenge in California midway
through last month.
In contention
"It's nice to be in contention the first week out," added Woods,
who shot one of only eight sub-70 scores on the day.
"I'm very pleased with the way I hit it today but this golf
course is not playing easy. The fairways are fast and these greens
are firming up a little bit."
Chasing his fifth victory at Torrey Pines in 10 starts, Woods
made his first move of the day at the fourth where he struck a
superb approach to within seven feet of the flag.
He also birdied the par-five sixth, after his second shot ended
up just short of the green, and the seventh, where he rolled in a
23-footer.
With his long game in sparkling order, Woods had good birdie
chances at the second and ninth but missed putts from five and
seven feet.
He failed to make up further ground after the turn, reeling off
nine consecutive pars to stay at nine under.
Snedeker, despite struggling for accuracy off the tee, held on
to a share of the lead with a mix of seven bogeys and five
birdies.
His best moment came at the par-four fifth where he holed out
from a greenside bunker for his second birdie of the day.
"That course was playing extremely difficult today," the
26-year-old from Nashville, Tennessee said.
"But it was fun. People who know me say it was a Brandt Snedeker
ride. Shoot every way, try to get up and down and make a few
putts.
"I gave myself a lot of chances and kind of survived a bad day
of ball-striking. This is where I want to be. I know I have the
talent and the game to be here."
Tour rookie Buckle, winner of the world junior title in the
15-17 age group at Torrey Pines in 1999 and 2000, joined Snedeker
at 11 under by rolling in a 15-foot birdie putt at the last.
(China Daily via Agencies January 29, 2007)
