Gwinnett Daily Post

AUGUSTA — Tiger Woods just teed off for this third round and, perhaps, he's making a charge.

He started, like Friday, 2-under early on the front nine to get within six shots of co-leaders Fred Couples and Jason Dufner. But he just took bogey on the par 3 sixth for the second straight day and is 2-over through six.

And the par 3s are only part of his problem.

Through his first two rounds and after two par 5s today, Woods has played the longest holes on the course just 1-under. His only birdie came Thursday on No. 8. He took par on every one yesterday as he dropped three strokes to finish 3-over.

“I didn't quite have it today with my swing and, unfortunately, I just had to hang in there and be patient,” Woods said after Friday's round. “Unfortunately, I played the par 3s 3-over and and par 5s not so good, either.

“If I clean those up, I'm under par. I was 2-under through3 and just blew that.”

At 2-under through four holes right now, he's got another chance and he knows he's not out of it yet.

“Anybody can still win the golf tournament if they make the cut,” said Woods, who came three shots away from not making the weekend. “Guys have won this tournament from five and six back going into the back nine. I just need to cut that (deficit) down a little bit (Saturday), play a good, solid round and cut that deficit down and get off to a quick start again on Sunday like I did last year.”

Of the players out on the course this morning, none are making much of a charge. Brandt Snedeker and Sang-Moon Bae are 2-under, tied for the day's current low but neither are below par for the tournament.