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CALIFORNIA - Tiger Woods faltered with two early bogeys as his lead was trimmed to three shots midway through the Target World Challenge third round on Saturday.
Four ahead after firing a blistering course-record 62 on Friday, the world number one reached the turn in two-under-par 34 to lie 15 under overall.
Playing partner Jim Furyk, three under for the day, was alone in second place, with US Masters champion Zach Johnson a further three back in third, also after nine holes.
On a second successive day of calm weather at Sherwood Country Club, three-times winner Woods birdied the par-four first after hitting his approach to 15 feet (4.5m) and coolly rolling in the putt.
He also birdied the par-five second after enjoying a slice of good fortune with his drive. He pulled his tee shot well left of the fairway, his ball striking a young boy above the right hip before bouncing back into the rough.
"Do you want to be my agent?" a smiling Woods asked the boy after shaking his hand in gratitude.
After laying up safely with an iron on to the fairway, the 13-times major champion struck a superb wedge to within two feet of the flag to set up a tap-in birdie.
Woods was annoyed after running up a bogey at the par-four fourth, wasting a perfect tee shot by hitting his approach into the back right bunker and failing to get up and down.
He immediately recovered with birdies at the fifth and sixth.
After saving par at the seventh where he got up and down from light rough in front of the green, he missed a five-footer to bogey the par-three eighth.
Woods, seeking his eighth victory of the year, narrowly missed a birdie putt from 15 feet at the ninth.
Furyk, Woods' closest challenger overnight, played rock-steady golf to reach the turn in three-under 33.
Despite being outdriven by his partner by around 40 yards (37m), the American world number three birdied the second, fourth and fifth to hold on to second place.
- REUTERS
