Tiger struggles as two late birdies can’t save round
SAN FRANCISCO — On moving day, Tiger Woods made a move, but it was not in the right direction.
Woods began Saturday’s PGA Championship third round at Harding Park at even-par, eight shots out of the lead. He finished his round — a disappointing 2-over 72, 10 shots out of the lead with leader Haotong Li still an hour away from teeing off.
At one point, Woods was 4-over for the tournament and going in the wrong direction. He managed only two birdies in his round and they came on Nos. 16 and 18. Too little too late. His round was sabotaged by a string of bogeys on Nos. 8, 11, 12 and 13 — the most difficult stretch of the course.
“Happy the way I finished,’’ Woods said. “I made some putts on the last five holes, but that’s about it. It was just a fight all day, and unfortunately just didn’t get anything going. I was frustrated that I didn’t get anything going early. I wish I would have made the putts I did at the end, at the beginning.’’
➤ Justin Thomas began his third round playing like the No. 1-ranked player in the world he is, looking like he was about the vault himself into contention. That hope, however, faded.
Thomas, who made the cut on the number Friday at 1-over, birdied five of the first seven holes — No. 2 and then 4 through 7 — and suddenly was 4-under for the tournament, four shots out of the lead.
But he bogeyed Nos. 8 and 9 to halt his momentum. He got one back with a birdie on 10, but he bogeyed 16 and 18 to turn what could have been a magical round into a mediocre 68 to stand 1-under for the week.
“I’m pissed off, that’s really the best way to describe it,’’ Thomas said. “I let a really good round go, and really had a great opportunity to put myself in a good position going into [Sunday]. I just didn’t capitalize on the back nine. I knew being where I was that I needed to post a good round today to have a chance.’’
The bogey on 16, which is the shortest par-4 on the course, was particularly maddening for Thomas.
“The tee shot on 16 was really bad,’’ Thomas said. “That was deflating just because that felt like it took a birdie opportunity away. I felt like going into that hole 4-under for the round, I was trying to get two of those last three. I felt like I would have been in great position going into [Sunday] and did the exact opposite. So, that sucked.’’
➤ Thomas was paired on Saturday with his friend Jordan Spieth, who is a PGA Championship victory away from completing a career Grand Slam. But Spieth struggled, shooting 76 and was in last place at 7-over when he completed his round.
“I know he’s going to be fine,’’ Thomas said. “I’m not just saying it because he’s one of my best friends. All of us go through little spurts. It’s just for him, this has just been a tough one. All it takes sometimes is one week and all your confidence gets back.’’