Stalking Tiger makes Saturday move

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Tiger Woods resurrected his fading hopes of a calendar grand slam by firing a flawless four-under-par 68 in Saturday's third round at the U.S. Masters.

Seven strokes off the pace overnight, the American world number one closed to within six shots of South African Trevor Immelman's lead after posting a five-under total of 211.

Despite missing several birdie putts on a damp day at Augusta National, Woods stayed in the hunt for a 14th major title with his first sub-70 score at the Masters since the third round in 2005.

"Today was probably the highest score I could have shot," the 32-year-old, a four times Masters champion, told reporters after covering the back nine in three-under 33.

"I hit the ball so well and hit so many putts that just skirted the hole, that didn't quite have the right speed or the right line. But, hey, I put myself right back in the tournament.

"If I have a few more putts go in I'm right there, but I'm still right there anyway."

Woods struck the ball fluently off the tee throughout the round but struggled early on with the pace of the rain-softened greens, his approach shots often screwing back away from the hole.

Out in one-under 35, he steadily worked his way up the leaderboard, picking up shots at the 10th and 13th before hitting a superb approach to a foot at the par-four 17th, the ball having spun back before narrowly sliding past the hole.

The tap-in for birdie, his fourth of the day, took him to five under overall.

MIRACULOUS PAR

Woods then conjured a miraculous par at the last after pushing his tee shot right into trees.

Facing a narrow gap through the trees, he threaded a seven-iron from 180 yards on to the green before two-putting from long range to salvage his par.

"That second shot I just had to fit it," he said after being applauded all the way to the green. "I had 180 to the hole and I had to hit the right traj (trajectory) as well as the right line.

"I said: 'You know what, either you're making six or you're making four, one of the two. Let's go ahead and try to make four here'."

Woods, who has triumphed nine times in 11 starts worldwide since last August, accepts he faces an uphill task in Sunday's final round with cold weather and strong winds forecast.

"If everything holds up and we get the weather we're supposed to get tomorrow, you just got to hang in there and hang around," he said. "You know that anything can happen.

"There's not many guys ahead of me but it all depends on what they do, how low they go. Hopefully, I can stay within striking distance tomorrow."

For Woods to clinch his fifth green jacket, he will have to enter uncharted territory, having never before come from behind after 54 holes to win a major championship.

(Editing by Ken Ferris and Greg Stutchbury)