Tiger posts third round 75 in Hero World Challenge

ALBANY, Bahamas – After recording two impressive sub-par rounds, Tiger Woods and most of the field struggled Saturday during the third round of the $3.5 million Hero World Challenge at Albany Resort.

Unlike the mostly calm first two days, wind blew up to 20-miles-per-hour. As a result, club selection was challenging, and the already slick greens became even faster.

Woods bogeyed four of the first seven holes before finding his rhythm and finished with a 3-over-par 75. He made two birdies and five bogeys.

“Anything I did right, it ended up in a bad spot and everything I did wrong, it was really bad,” he said. “It was just one of those days.”

Woods has a 54-hole score of 4-under 212 and is tied for 10th in the elite 18-player field. Second-round pacesetter Charley Hoffman increased his advantage to five strokes and is at 14-under 202.

Paired with Hideki Matsuyama, Woods played the front nine in 4-over 40, then rebounded with a 1-under 35 on the back. His first birdie came at the 14th hole, where he took off his golf hat and bowed to the crowd.

“It’s ridiculous it took me 14 holes to make a birdie,” said Woods, who is competing for the first time in more than 10 months. “I had already played four par-5s and nothing happened. But hey, it’s just one of those days and I fought through it and tomorrow is another fight.”

Woods hit only seven of 14 fairways and nine of 18 greens and used 28 putts.

“I just kept fighting and tried to post the best number I possibly could,” he said.

At the par-5 third hole, he blistered his second shot with a 3-wood from 278 yards, but the ball flew long and resulted in a bogey. So it went.

“That shot threw me for a loop,” Woods said. “I should have played for a flier instead of hitting a normal shot.”

While not thrilled with his score, Woods played pain-free and is grateful to be competing again.

“It feels good to be out here fighting again,” said the five-time winner and tournament host. “It’s so much fun and I’ve missed doing this.”

Woods tees off Sunday at 11:30 a.m. EST with Justin Thomas.

“I really didn’t feel like I was that far off,” Woods said.