Tiger Heads Into Sunday at 2-Under 214
ALBANY, Bahamas – Tiger Woods overcame a shaky start with five birdies and fought his way back to shoot an even-par 72 on Saturday in the third round of the Hero World Challenge at Albany.
“Just one of those days where I felt like I was fighting from behind,” he said.
Woods has a 54-hole score of 2-under 214 and trails leaders Tony Finau, Jon Rahm and Henrik Stenson (-13) by 11 strokes.
Playing with Bryson DeChambeau, Woods got off to a rough start, bogeying the par-3 second and doubled the par-5 third. He rebounded with birdies at the par-5 sixth and par-4 ninth to turn in 1-over 37.
Woods added his third birdie at the par-5 11th to return to even for the round. However, he dropped shots at the par-3 12th and par-4 14th holes.
At the par-5 15th, Woods reached the green in two and two-putted for a birdie. He followed with birdies at the par-5 15th and par-3 17th and toured the back nine in 1-under 35.
Although currently last in the stellar 18-player field, Woods is unconcerned. A five-time winner of the event, he also serves as host and proceeds are used to support youth learning programs for his TGR Foundation.
“Last year I was in a completely different spot, completely different scenario and trying to piece it together, see if I could actually play this game again,” he said. “I know I can play now, and I know I can win. I just have not done a very good job this week of playing clean and keeping my rounds going like I should and could have.”
Woods tees off Sunday at 10:42 a.m. ET and is paired with Hideki Matsuyama.
Woods was saddened by the passing of President George H.W. Bush on Friday, a big supporter of golf. In 2011, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame for Lifetime Achievement.
“Obviously his name was synonymous with golf,” said Woods. “Being around him all these years and getting a chance to know him at the Presidents Cup and him being involved since its inception in ’94 … he was such a class act. Anyone who’s ever been around him knows how much he loved golf and how much he supported it and how much we’re going to miss him.”
President Bush joined Woods at his inaugural PGA Tour event in Washington D.C. in 2007 and they played together in Houston.
“Eighteen holes in probably two and a half hours,” said Woods, who appreciated his pace of play. He was one of the smartest people I’ve ever been around. So down-to-earth”
