23 Aug 2015

Victory within reach for Tiger

2:01 pm on 23 August 2015

Tiger Woods has kept his bid for a first title since 2013 on track with a two-under-par third round 68 at the latest PGA tour event in North Carolina.

Tiger Woods, Virginia, August, 2015.

Tiger Woods, Virginia, August, 2015. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The 39-year-old began the day tied for the lead at 11-under par, but was pushed back into second after his compatriot Jason Gore carded an eight under par third round 62 to take the lead at 15 under for the tournament.

He arrived at Sedgefield Country Club's 18th hole in sole possession of second place on 14-under, but a bogey at the last saw him drop into a three-way tie for second.

Woods was joined on 197 by Sweden's Jonas Blixt, who fired a 62 and American Scott Brown, who signed for a 66.

The resurgent Woods - coming off a missed cut at the PGA Championship that marked his third straight early exit from a major championship - drew huge crowds on Saturday and he didn't disappoint.

He opened with a birdie at the first hole to briefly take the outright lead.

By the time he birdied the fifth, he was tied for the lead with Blixt on 13-under.

Woods slid a 12-foot birdie attempt just past the hole at the sixth - one of several birdie chances that failed to drop.

He also made several good par saves, including a 16-footer at the 10th and a testing four-foot downhill par putt at 17.

At the 18th, Woods rolled his long first putt past the hole, and saw his par-saving attempt from seven feet circle the cup and fail to drop for his only bogey of the day.

Even with that blemish, Woods posted a third straight round in the 60s for the first time this season, during which he has struggled to see the swing changes he's made pay dividends.

Playing in just his 11th event of the year, Woods likely needs to win to qualify for the first event of the post season play-offs.