Woods Poised for Another PGA Title

Aug 11, 08:15 PM

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Tulsa, OK (Sports Network) - Tiger Woods is well on his way to victory at the PGA Championship.

The No. 1 player in the world and defending champion only managed a one-under 69 on Saturday, but will take a three-shot lead into the final round at Southern Hills.

Woods finished 54 holes at seven-under-par 203.

"I accomplished my goal today," said Woods. "The goal was to shoot under par and increase my lead. I was able to do that today. Positive day all around."

Stephen Ames birdied the last for a one-under 69, his third round in the 60s. He is alone in second place at minus-four.

Woody Austin bogeyed No. 18 to also shoot a 69. He is in third at three-under- par 207, one shot better that John Senden, who also posted a one-under score on Saturday.

Woods is in great shape to pick up his first major of the year and his 13th overall. In all 12 of Woods' previous major championships, he has held at least a piece of the 54-hole lead.

"In order to have a great year, you have to have a major championship," said Woods, who finished second at both the Masters and U.S. Open. "I'm in good shape going into tomorrow and hopefully I can get it done."

Woods has won three PGA titles, including last year's, and has four victories this season. Last week at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, he cruised to an eight-shot victory and the momentum certainly seems to be there.

Woods started the final round with a two-shot lead over Scott Verplank.

Verplank cut Woods' lead to two with a birdie at four, but Woods answered with an eight-foot birdie putt of his own. Verplank made a mess of the par-five fifth and made bogey, then bogeyed the eighth when he missed an 18-foot par save.

Woods' lead was four, but Verplank converted a four-footer to birdie the ninth and get back within three. Woods kept the lead at that margin with a six-foot par putt at 10, but the advantage spread at the par-four 12th.

Verplank drove into the left rough and could only muscle his ball a few yards farther left. He had to try to pitch between trees and struck a branch. All totaled, Verplank made a double-bogey six and Woods sank a 10-footer for birdie.

The three-shot swing gave Woods a six-shot lead over Verplank, while Ames moved into second, five back. Ames had drained a long birdie putt at the same hole to move to minus-three.

Woods' six-iron tee ball at the 14th found a bunker on the left and he had a difficult shot out of the sand. He blasted 15 feet past and missed for his first bogey of the round.

Austin made it interesting a few groups ahead. He rolled in a seven-footer for birdie at 15 and a six-footer at the 16th and suddenly Woods' margin was only three.

Woods missed a couple of birdie tries at 15 and 16, but Austin drove into the right first cut at 18. His approach ran through the putting surface and his third ran eight feet past the flag stick. Austin's par save missed right and he tapped in for a bogey and a round of 69.

Woods was four ahead of Austin and Ames and holed a five-foot par putt at the 17th. Ames hit a spectacular second shot to the closing hole and converted the 12-foot birdie putt.

Now with a three-shot lead, Woods hammered his drive down the fairway at the closing hole, but gave himself a long birdie look. Woods nearly sank the putt, but settled for par and is three ahead in his quest for a fourth Wanamaker Trophy.

Sunday's final pairing is an intriguing one.

It was at the 2006 Accenture Match Play Championship where Ames said that he thought he had a chance against Woods because the No. 1 seed's driving was spotty.

Woods thrashed him 9 & 8 in the first round that day and when asked about what he felt about Ames' comments, Woods responded, "9 and 8."

Ames was testy about the subject Saturday.

"Are we at the PGA Championship or the Match Play?" asked Ames. "I don't know if I want to go there."

Ames insisted his quote at the Match Play was taken out of context.

"All I know is I read the quote and when I went out there and played well, it felt good," said Woods. "I'm just going to go out there and play tomorrow. It is what it is."

Ames is no slouch. He won the 2004 Western Open and last year's Players Championship. He played late in Sunday's final round at the U.S. Open before tying for 10th and is also trying to get Gary Player's attention for a spot on the International Presidents Cup team.

But he will have to topple the game's best front-runner.

Woods has only coughed up the 54-hole lead three times in his PGA Tour career, and never in a major. In the second round on Friday, he matched the lowest round in major championship history with a 63.

"He's going to be tough to beat," acknowledged Ames. "He's done it 12 times. He has that influence on players. It's probably going to happen to me. I don't know."

And why is Woods so tough in the top spot in a major?

"I know what to do in this situation. I know what it takes," said Woods. "The majors are where it's at. You apply that knowledge. The majors I've won, I've always enjoyed being out in front."

Ernie Els is the only other player under par. He shot a 69 on Saturday and is in at minus-one.

Verplank came apart on the back nine en route to a four-over 74. He is tied for sixth place with Adam Scott (70), Arron Oberholser (70), K.J. Choi (68), Kevin Sutherland (68), Nathan Green (67) and Boo Weekley (65) at even-par 210.

Phil Mickelson struggled to a five-over 75 and is tied for 56th place at plus- seven.

08/11 19:39:00 ET