Woods’ 68 Puts Him Back In Contention

Four-time Masters Champion Tiger Woods put himself in prime position for his fifth Green Jacket with Saturday's third round 68.

It was a round Woods called 'good', but could have easily been great if not for several missed short birdie putts. A spectacular par save from the right trees at No. 18 maintained Woods' momentum.

"It was close, really, really close," Woods said of a day which began under storm clouds and a 30-minute rain delay and ended with Woods in his usual position of contention.

"It seem like a lot of putts just went over the edges. I hit the ball so good today and hit so many good putts, my only bad swing was No 18. There is no doubt I put myself back in the Tournament. I'm still right there."

After missing a five-foot birdie putt on the par-5 15th, it appeared that Woods' momentum had stalled.

But he made a par at the scenic 16th, than displayed his brilliance on the par-4 17th. He placed his pitching wedge shot to a foot of the pin.

"I could read that putt," he joked.

On the 18th hole, he hit his tee shot into the trees on the right and had to thread a shot through a thicket of trees from 181 yards.

"My only other shot was backwards and I still would have 200 yards to the pin, so I decided to go for it," said Woods.

Using a 7-iron, Woods guided his shot through the four foot hole onto the front one-third of the green and two-putted for 68. It was his first sub-70 score since the third round of the 2006 Masters.

Woods headed to the putting green immediately after he finished his round for some practice, confident in the fact that all those ahead of him have not won a major championship.


Sunday's forecast is for cooler temperatures and blustery winds.

Woods said his game plan would not change.

"I've got a lot of work to still do, but I put myself right there," he said. "I've just got to stay patent and stay within striking distance."

Woods will attempt to make up one of the largest 36-hole deficit in Masters history, but said he liked his chances for another Green Jacket Sunday.

"On the back nine on Sunday, you can shoot yourself out of it or right into it, but I like where I am now," he said.