Tiger Woods sent a charge through the British Open field Saturday, shooting up the leaderboard and placing himself in range to win his first major championship since 2008 if he can replicate his third-round success on Sunday.
Following a pair of ho-hum even-par rounds through Days 1 and 2 at Carnoustie, Woods carded a 5-under 66 with six birdies in Round 3 and moved into a tie for fifth place after starting Saturday in 29th. At one point, he held a share of the tournament lead on the heels of three consecutive birdies. A bogey on the par-3 16th hole was the lone setback in an otherwise stellar round — Woods' best on a major stage since he held a share of the Day 2 lead at the 2012 U.S. Open.
Notably, it was Woods' first weekend round in the 60s at the British Open in 11 years.
SN COVERAGE: British Open leaderboard
The 14-time major champion hasn't won on the PGA Tour since 2013. His last major title came at the 2008 U.S. Open.
Woods walked off the 18th green Saturday two strokes behind leader Kevin Kisner. While that gap widened by end of the day, the competition for the Claret Jug will be compelling thanks to Woods and several other big names sniffing around the top of the leaderboard.
Below are highlights from Tiger's third round; you can follow the rest of the field at our British Open live blog.
Tiger Woods' score:
British Open Round 3
| Hole (Par) | Tiger's score (Overall) | Place |
| 1 (4) | 4 (even) | t41st |
| 2 (4) | 4 (even) | t41st |
| 3 (4) | 4 (even) | t41st |
| 4 (4) | 3 (1 under) | t24th |
| 5 (4) | 4 (1 under) | t24th |
| 6 (5) | 4 (2 under) | t21st |
| 7 (4) | 4 (2 under) | t21st |
| 8 (3) | 3 (2 under) | t23rd |
| 9 (4) | 3 (3 under) | t17th |
| 10 (4) | 3 (4 under) | t7th |
| 11 (4) | 3 (5 under) | t3rd |
| 12 (4) | 4 (5 under) | t4th |
| 13 (3) | 3 (5 under) | t4th |
| 14 (5) | 4 (6 under) | t1st |
| 15 (4) | 4 (6 under) | t1st |
| 16 (3) | 4 (5 under) | t5th |
| 17 (4) | 4 (5 under) | t5th |
| 18 (4) | 4 (5 under) | t5th |
12:10 p.m. — That'll do it for Woods' third round, and what a day it was. Save for a bogey hiccup on 16, he charged up the leaderboard, moving from 41st place to fifth with six birdies. As he walks off 18, Woods sits two strokes behind leader Kevin Kisner (7 under). That gap could widen a bit by end of day, but Woods will enter Sunday with a reasonable shot at winning his first major since 2008. It'll likely take another round like Saturday's to get there.
11:38 a.m. — Woods drops to fifth after a bogey on No.16. He drove short of the green and caught a bad bounce on the par 3, then missed wide for par from 6 feet out.
11:28 a.m. — Woods had a chance to take the outright lead on No. 15 but missed the 20-foot birdie putt by a few inches and settled for the two-putt par.
11:21 a.m. — Woods has not shot a weekend round in the 60s at the British Open in 11 years. He'll get there today, barring a late-round meltdown. The last time he finished a major round with a share of the lead? Day 2 of the 2012 U.S. Open — 2,226 days ago.
11:14 a.m. — THIS IS NOT A DRILL. Woods sinks his sixth birdie of the day and gains a share of the lead at 6 under. On the weekend. In a major.
SIX-UNDER on the day. @TigerWoods is your co-leader. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/Xn2hEKGKFj
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 21, 2018
10:34 a.m. — The birdies are flying now. Make that three straight for Woods as he surges to 5 under and a tie for third through 11 holes after starting the day t41st.
Oh, he’s jacked up. Hit another driver here at 11. It’s almost on the green. Yup, just short and left. Just mashed it…. Hammer time. #TheOpen
— Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) July 21, 2018
Pedestrians beware... there's a Tiger on the prowl at #TheOpen 🐅 pic.twitter.com/PP54nljSn2
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) July 21, 2018
10:07 a.m. — Woods closes the front nine with a birdie (and a fist pump), moving to 3 under on the day — three strokes off the lead.
9:43 a.m. — After making par at No. 5, Woods gets himself to 2 under with a birdie on the par 5 sixth hole. He was on the green in two but came up a few feet short of eagle on a 100-foot putt. He sinks the second putt to climb a few spots on the leaderboard.
Driver on the par-5 sixth hole is down the right and I think it’s actually in the fairway. Yes, in the fairway. Yes, I said, driver in the fairway. #TheOpen
— Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) July 21, 2018
9:34 a.m. — Woods taps in for his first birdie of the day on the par 4 fourth hole.
1st birdie on the card ⭕ @TigerWoods is 5 back at #TheOpen . pic.twitter.com/TSKXQfFvHr
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 21, 2018
9:12 a.m. — Woods began Round 3 much like his first two days at Carnoustie — treading water with consecutive pars on holes 1-3.
