Augusta, United States--Tiger Woods used superb short-game shotmaking, what had been a major worry only weeks ago, and leaped into the Masters hunt by firing a four-under par 68 in Saturday's third round.
The 14-time major champion birdied four of the first eight holes at Augusta National and, despite a closing bogey, the four-time Masters winner finished on six-under 210 after 54 holes in the year's first major tournament.
"I had my chances to make this a really special round," Woods said. "It could have been something seriously low. I had it really going. All in all, it should have been about two shots better."
Woods was level with world number one Rory McIlroy but 10 shots off the pace of leader Jordan Spieth.
"It's in Jordan's hands right now," Woods said. "He can run off and hide. He's just playing 'Steady Eddie.' That's all he has to do, handle the par-fives and stay away from bogeys."
Woods has not won a Masters since 2005, has not won a major title since the 2008 US Open and has not won any title since the 2013 WGC event at Firestone.
"I'm going to have to post something low, shoot 30 or 31 (on the front nine)," Woods said of his Sunday final-round strategy.
"At least I've given myself a chance."
Folowing a 69 Friday, Woods has had back-to-back rounds in the 60s at the Masters for the first time since his 2005 triumph. He had not done it in any major since the 2012 British Open or in an American major since the 2009 US Open.
Woods, who has fallen to 111th in the world rankings, went three-under on the first four holes for the first time in his Masters career, birdied the par-5 eighth, 13th and 15th holes but went right into trees off the tee at 14 and 18 on the way to bogeys.
AFP
