Tiger on the prowl, but laments missed chances

Tribune News Service Tiger Woods acknowledges the crowd on the 18th green during the PGA Championship on Saturday at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis. Woods is four strokes back of leader Brooks Koepka heading into today’s final round.

ST. LOUIS – By the time Tiger Woods arrived at the 28th golf hole he’d played on Saturday, he was bushed.

He’d stirred his own emotions and that of the huge galleries at Bellerive Country Club by finishing out the rain-delayed second round of the PGA Championship with a 4-under-par 66.

Then the 42-year-old Woods went back out and opened the third round with five birdies in the first eight holes. At that point, he was in second place and creating a buzz that only he can.

When he reached the green at the par-5 17th in two shots, an eagle could have put Woods in the final group today – another milestone in his comeback.

But an older Woods teases more than he delivers, and not only did he motor his first putt 4 feet past the hole, he missed the comebacker for birdie.

It was a critical mistake in his otherwise impressive, second straight 66.

With Woods at 8 under overall, he was tied with five players, four back of leader Brooks Koepka. At one shot better, he would have only four contenders to overcome to win his 15th major title and first in more than 10 years.

“I thought I played really clean cards, really clean rounds,” Woods said. “And I just wish I could have got myself a couple more shots closer to the lead. Especially with 17, the way it’s playing.”

The tee on 17 was moved up to 550 yards to give the players a chance to go for the green in two, and they did so in large numbers. There were three eagles and 42 birdies among 80 players.

Woods admitted that mental fatigue might have played a role in the threeputt at 17.