Woods slips off pace in Bahamas

A hot and cold third round has left Tiger Woods tied for 10th in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

Woods fired a two-under par 70 yesterday and trails runaway leader Hideki Matsuyama, who carded an excellent seven-underpar 65, by 11 shots with a round to play.

But, after birdieing five of his first seven holes, Woods’ third round could have been much better than it was. Like his opening round 73, he faltered down the back nine as two bogeys cancelled out birdies on 11 and 17.

Woods struggled off the tee after turning into the back nine at fourunder-par, as he constantly missed the fairways with his driver.

While he got out of trouble more often than not with his second shot, he made a costly mistake on the 18th, when he sliced his shot into the water hazard and went on to card an ugly double bogey.

However, a day after firing a blemish free seven-under-par, there was still plenty to like about Woods’ game.

He short game was particularly good and there was no better example of it than on the par three No 5, when he holed his second shot out of the bunker.

In his long-awaited comeback from injury, his putting was also mostly sharp. His best effort was on show on the 17th, when he nailed a lengthy birdie putt and busted out his fist-pump.

Japan’s Matsuyama, who was tied with American Dustin Johnson at 12-under par going into the third round, is now out on his own and leads second-placed Johnson and Swede Henrik Stenson by seven shots.

The 24-year-old’s third round followed his opening round 65 and second round 67, and included a magnificent eagle on the par four No 7. Bogeys on eight and 16 were his only slip ups in his scorching round, which featured seven birdies.

Americans Brandt Snedeker and Matt Kuchar are tied for fourth at 11-under-par.