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CARNOUSTIE, Scotland – Tiger Woods kicked off the day on the outskirts of the Open. He was six strokes behind 54-hole co-leaders Kevin Kisner and Zach Johnson. He was in the mix, but he was not there. He had plenty of ground to catch up with at Carnoustie. He needed a low ride to really be in the conversation. There was hope. After all, this Saturday at the Open, he was ranked # 1 on the PGA Tour circuit in the third round.
This was the vintage of Tiger Woods at the third round of the Open at Carnoustie. Under 66. It's the first major that he started with three rounds of by or better since the Royal Lytham Open in 2012.
Justin Rose entered the third round of Saturday in 59th place at The Open, but after shooting a record 64 at Carnoustie, he is near the top of the standings.
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What followed was 18 holes reminiscent of the old days, when Woods charged the rank and the entire field – and everyone present, watching at home and roaming the Internet – became aware.
No. 1, Par 4, 396 Yards
Woods leaves his tee shot short of a bunker on the right side of the fairway. But he can not take advantage of a short-iron approach, pulling left. Needing to get on and off to avoid opening with a demoralizing bogey – which would have been costly since he started the day six strokes back and Carnoustie was already proving that he was playing as easy that all week – Woods rolls home a 10-foot to save par and momentum.
Score: By | Total: Same
No. 2, Par 4, 461 Yards
On Friday, Woods played cautiously, allowing himself 220 yards for his second shot. He did not play conservatively on Saturday, pounding for 312 yards to get another iron. He can not ride in the 16-foot birdie.
Score: By | Total: Same
No. 3, Par 4, 350 Yards
Another solid start on the left side gives Woods a good angle to be aggressive. But the approach does not go back up to the hole, leaving Woods a pretty important birdie putt. He made two 33-foot passes for a third consecutive goal.
Score: By | Total: Same
No. 4, Par 4, 415 yards
Needing something, Woods hits another perfect starting shot followed by another solid short iron. This time, he converted, hitting his third shot at 10 feet and then the hole for his first birdie of the day.
Score: Birdie | Total: 1 under
No. 5, Par 4, 412 yards
Although he played aggressively early, Woods opted to play safely on the tee at No. 5, hitting iron on the left side of the fairway to let himself 185 yards to the hole. A safe approach to the green is followed by a two-putt pair
Score: By | Total: 1 under
No. 6, Par 5, 508 yards
The Carnoustie Par 5 played easy all week. It's time for Woods to benefit. Woods, after using the pilot off the tee, reaches the green in half, leaving himself about 100 feet to the eagle. A two-putt gets him the birdie he needs at par 5.
Score: Birdie | Total: 2 under
No. 7, Par 4, 410 yards
A punctual iron from the tee. Woods, sometimes wild from the start, was strong in his third round. With 170 yards to the hole, Woods is giving himself a chance for another birdie. He can not convert 18 feet, being content with par. This is a missed opportunity as he tries to get closer to the leaders.
Score: By | Total: 2 under
No. 8, Par 3, 187 yards
A bad shot missed the green court, needing another high and low like the one he had to do first to save both the par and the momentum to new. The long green putt is just online. As the ball approaches the hole, Woods takes a few steps, ready to trigger a patented hand pump. The ball stops a short inch
Score: By | Total: 2 under
No. 9, Par 4, 474 yards
Woods hit the starting iron on Friday. He is not going to hit the starting iron on Saturday. On Friday, his tee shot was 247 yards and left him with 212 yards at the hole. With a driver in hand Saturday, Woods puts one on the left side, bringing him 40 yards farther than Friday. He hits what he would consider a disappointing second shot, the one that makes him look a 45-foot birdie. It's when everything turns. Woods rolls into this one, a hand pump accompanying him as he walks to pick the ball out of the hole.
Birdie | Total: 3 cents
No. 10, Par 4, 465 yards
A good nine, so maybe Woods would slip in the back? No way. Woods loads a driver in the middle of the fairway and then digs his second shot. He taps into the 1-footer for his second right birdie.
Score: Birdie | Total: 4 under
No. 11, Par 4, 382 yards
Woods goes back with the driver after going with the iron the day before. Feeling a theme? This one is 363 yards – yes, 363 yards – and almost stops on the green. He gets up again and again, but this time, not for a par, but for a third consecutive birdie.
Score: Birdie | Total: 5 under
No. 12, Par 4, 503 yards
In spite of its length, Woods opts to go conservative of the tee. He left 261 yards in the hole of his second shot after hitting his tee shot at only 240. The 12th hole hardest on the course on Saturday, playing almost a half-stroke over par. Woods Sails Back, Reaching a 32-Foot Safe Approach, Then Two-Stroke Au Pair
Score: By | Total: 5 under
No. 13, Par 3, 175 yards
A safe tee shot gives Woods another look at another birdie. Faced with a 30-foot birdie, Woods re-installs for a two-par putt to stay bug-free.
Score: By | Total: 5 under
No. 14, Par 5, 513 yards
Par 5 is an important hole for the field, considering the difficulty of the four closing holes. Woods heads to the tee knowing that he will need a birdie or that he will probably lose some distance to the field later in the day. He pulled back a bit on Friday, hitting his tee shot at just 260. On Saturday, he's the driver, and he scours 309 yards. With 220 yards at the hole, Woods gives himself a chance at the eagle. He finds the green with his second shot, the ball settling 60 feet from the hole. Another two-putt gives him another birdie. For the first time since 2012, Tiger Woods is tied for first place in a third round major.
Score: Birdie | Total: 6 under
No. 15, Par 4, 472 yards
Woods hits another perfect start and another solid approach, setting up another by two-putt. Then, it's the hardest part of the course, the last three disconcerting holes at Carnoustie.
Score: By | Total: 6 under
No. 16, Par 3, 248 yards
Woods misses the green on the monstrous by 3. All day he has found a way to get on and off – sometimes for by, sometimes for birdie. This time, facing a 13 foot for the par, he can not avoid bogey. The putt slides through the hole.
Bogey | Total: 5 under
No. 17, Par 4, 460 yards
The 17th hole caused players adjustments all week. But Woods hits a perfect iron on the tee and another solid second shot, leaving a makeable birdie putt to clear the bogey at No. 16. The 30-foot slips to the side, and Woods is forced to tap into par.
Score: By | Total: 5 under
No. 18, Par 4, 499 yards
Play safe. Hit the channel. Make a par. Pass. Easy, right? Of course, since Woods decided to hit an iron on the tee to make sure there was no drama. Except that he pulls it down on the left side and lacks accuracy in Barry Burn. Sitting in deep rudeness, Woods cuts his ball in the fairway, short of where the burn runs in front of the green. Party with a total of 84 yards for his third shot, Woods managed a perfect corner, leaving 10 feet to save parity.
He strikes to finish a round of six birdies, a bogey.
Score: By | Total: 5 sub
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