Tiger up by 3, near 1st title since ’13
ATLANTA — Tiger Woods is three shots ahead and one round away from capping his comeback season with a moment that has defined his career. Winning.
Woods played his most dynamic golf of the year Saturday with six birdies in his opening seven holes to build a five-shot lead. He cooled from there and had to settle for a 5-under 65 and a three-shot lead over Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose in the Tour Championship.
Woods has the 54-hole lead for the first time since his last victory in 2013 at the Bridgestone Invitational. He has not lost an official tournament when leading by more than two shots going into the final round, and his closing record with the lead is 42-2 on the PGA Tour.
Woods has never been in better position to show he’s all the way back from four back surgeries that once made him fear he might never play again.
“I’ve gone through a lot this year to get myself to this point and understanding and fighting my way through it,” Woods said. “I’m certainly much more equipped than I was in March because of what I’ve gone through.”
Woods was at 12-under 198 and for the first time on the PGA Tour will be paired with McIlroy in the final group on a Sunday. McIlroy birdied two of his last three holes for a 66.
“It’s obviously exciting for the golf tournament. It’s exciting for golf in general that he’s up there,” McIlroy said. “But all I can do is concentrate on myself. The game is hard enough without looking at other people. Go out there, take care of my business and hopefully that’s good enough.”
Rose started the third round tied with Woods — but that didn’t last long. Rose, who shot a 68, opened with two straight bogeys and was four shots behind after four holes. He narrowed the gap with a birdie on the 16th as Woods had to scramble for bogey.
Woods has gone more than five years without winning. He also has won 90 times.
“It’s a little more unknown now,” Rose said. “Obviously his history, his statistics from this point are impeccable. They’re incredible. But he’s human, and there’s a lot on it for him.”