Stalking Tiger makes Saturday move

Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:23pm EDT
 
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By Mark Lamport-Stokes

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.  Continued...

 
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