Tiger Woods' score: Round 3 results, highlights from Tour Championship

Brandon Schlager

•
Tiger Woods' score: Round 3 results, highlights from Tour Championship image

A resurgent Tiger Woods has toyed with ending his five-year PGA Tour winless drought a handful of times this season, to no avail. But he will enter Sunday at the Tour Championship with the outright 54-hole lead, once again stirring hope for a win in his final individual shot for 2018.

Woods started Saturday's third round red-hot and finished at 5-under 65, enough to build a three-stroke cushion (12 under) for the tournament. He began Saturday at East Lake Golf Club tied with Justin Rose at 7 under, but pulled ahead on the first hole and led wire to wire.

It was quickly apparent the 14-time major champion had found a groove once again.

Woods birdied six of his first seven holes, including five in a row at one point. He cooled off on the back nine, managing eight pars and a bogey, but had already comfortably distanced himself on the leaderboard from Rose and Rory McIlroy, who closed Saturday in a tie for second at 9 under.

Woods is also in the running for the FedEx Cup, but would need Rose to drop down to at least fifth place Sunday, as well as other stipulations. But that's merely a secondary story in comparison as Woods seeks to punctuate a successful comeback season with an elusive win. Of course, he last tasted victory Aug. 4, 2013, at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. The Tour Championship is the PGA's season finale and his final opportunity to do so. 

Woods, who is 42-2 all time with the outright lead through 54 holes, will have momentum on his side. He tees off with McIlroy in the final group at 2:30 p.m. ET.

MORE: Live Tour Championship leaderboard

Sporting News tracked Tiger's score with live hole-by-hole updates below.  

Tiger Woods' score:
2018 Tour Championship

Hole (Par) Tiger's score (Overall) Place
1 (4)  1 under (8 under) 1st
2 (3)  1 under (8 under) 1st
3 (4)  2 under (9 under) 1st
4 (4)   3 under (10 under) 1st
5 (4)  4 under (11 under) 1st
6 (5) 5 under (12 under) 1st
7 (4)  6 under (13 under) 1st
8 (4)  6 under (13 under) 1st
9 (3)  5 under (12 under) 1st
10 (4)  5 under (12 under) 1st
11 (3)  5 under (12 under) 1st
12 (4)  6 under (13 under) 1st
13 (4) 6 under (13 under) 1st
14 (4) 6 under (13 under) 1st
15 (3)  6 under (13 under) 1st
16 (4) 5 under (12 under) 1st
17 (4) 5 under (12 under) 1st
18 (5)  5 under (12 under) 1st

Hole 18: Par 5, 590 yards

That's a wrap. Woods steadies for par on the monster par-5 No. 18. He was 1 over on the back nine to follow a stellar front, but still finished the third round with a 5-under 65. He played with the outright lead wire to wire Saturday and takes a three-stroke lead into Sunday's final round. Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy each closed at 9 under through 54 holes and will be Woods' main title challengers.

Hole 17: Par 4, 430 yards

Woods gave himself an opportunity for birdie, but just misses the 14-foot putt and settles for par instead. Status quo on the leaderboard heading into 18.

Hole 16: Par 4, 454 yards

Woods gets into some trouble on No. 16. After his tee shot found the rough, the approach rolled and rolled, far and to the right of the green. Then his chip cut short and rolled back downhill. Woods finally closed on the hole, but couldn't save par. Meanwhile, Justin Rose birdied and gained two strokes. Woods' lead is trimmed to three shots.

Hole 15: Par 3, 211 yards

After turning in a bogey on No. 9, Woods has been steady as can be through the back nine with a birdie and five pars. Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose are tied for second at 8 under.

Hole 14: Par 4, 520 yards

Woods made a four-foot putt to save par but gains a stroke on Rose, who cards his second bogey of the day. The difference is now five shots.

Hole 13: Par 4, 440 yards

Woods hit the fairway off the tee but falls short of the green on his approach. Instead of chipping up, he pulled out the putter and wound up just shy of the hole. He'll settle for par.

Hole 12: Par 4, 389 yards

Another tidy birdie for Woods as he taps in from six feet out. Rose birdied No. 12, too, but once again can't gain any ground.

Hole 11: Par 3, 214 yards

Par holds again on the 11th. It could be a big one, as partner Justin Rose had a birdie opportunity but missed from about 10 feet out. Instead, Woods takes care of business and avoids a potential two-stroke flip.

Hole 10: Par 4, 424 yards

On the green in two, Woods badly missed a birdie chance long by about three feet. But he cleaned it up for par and maintains a four-stroke lead over partner Justin Rose.

Hole 9: Par 3, 235 yards

Woods' tee shot missed the green to the left, and he needed to sink a nine-foot putt to save par. It barely slid by the hole and he settles for bogey, taking a 5-under 30 into the turn. He still leads second-place Justin Rose by four strokes.

Hole 8: Par 4, 455 yards

Woods missed the fairway again, his tee shot finding the rough slightly, but recovers again with more stellar iron play. He pushed a long putt for birdie and taps in for par. So ends the birdie streak, but Woods is about to card one of his best nine-hole performances in some time.

Hole 7: Par 4, 481 yards

Woods has rattled off FIVE consecutive birdies. This time, he recovered from his first missed fairway of the day, dropping an approach from the bunker within 5 feet of the hole. His putting has been on the money. Woods is 6 under through seven holes and has built a five-stroke lead.

Hole 6: Par 5, 525 yards

Six holes. Five birdies. Woods found the greenside bunker on his second shot but stuck his third within 10 feet of the hole. As has been typical today, he didn't flinch on the putt and holds a four-stroke lead. 

Hole 5: Par 4, 442 yards

Make that three consecutive birdies for Woods. He's 4 under for the day and cruising with a four-stroke lead. Woods has hit nine of his last 10 fairways going back to Round 2.

Hole 4: Par 4, 479 yards

What a start. Woods, after staying a perfect 3 for 3 on fairways, was facing down a 21-foot putt but sinks it for yet another birdie, padding his lead to three strokes over Rory McIlroy. So far, Woods appears to have found his form from Thursday, when he carded a 65. 

Hole 3: Par 4, 391 yards

Another pristine iron shot drops inside 10 feet to the pin. Woods makes the putt and ups his lead to 9 under with a pair of birdies through his first three holes.

Hole 2: Par 3, 197 yards

Woods' tee shot lands 15 yards from the hole, setting up another mid-range birdie putt. This time, he falls just short and settles for par. Elsewhere, Rory McIlroy (7 under) has taken over second place from Rose with a pair of birdies through three holes.

Hole 1: Par 4, 469 yards

Woods starts hot with a 292-yard drive in the middle of the fairway, then buries a 20-foot birdie putt. Rose, meanwhile, cards a bogey, and Tiger retakes sole possession of first with a two-stroke swing out of the gate.

Brandon Schlager

Brandon Schlager Photo

Brandon Schlager is an assistant managing editor at The Sporting News. A proud Buffalo, N.Y. native and graduate of SUNY Buffalo State, he joined SN as an intern in 2014 and now oversees editorial content strategy.