"I need to play good on that front nine. The back nine anything can happen. There are three par fives and (the short par-4) 13th as well," Woods said.
"So if I can just play a good solid front nine, get some momentum going on the back nine, you get some easy holes on the back nine.
"Most of the scores, even on the first couple of days, guys were shooting between three and five under par on that back nine.
"So hopefully I can put myself in position that, if I shoot one of those scores on the back nine, I'll be right there."
The former world No.1 was a tad unlucky on the first when his approach bounced over the back of the green, but a "terrible" tee shot off the second and another errant drive on three cost him two more strokes.
But it was his putting that really let Woods down. "I made nothing today," he lamented. "So it was frustrating.
"I didn't think the greens were going to be that firm but they were and then instinctively when the greens were that firm I play more break in the putts and I missed every single putt on the high side on the front nine.
"So I make an adjustment going into the back nine and I go slightly lower lines and consequently I missed every single putt on the low side.
"I was probably over-thinking on the greens a little bit, but it's just one of those things where these greens are so grainy, it's just tough."
Saturday was the first time Woods had been atop the leaderboard since the third round of the Chevron World Challenge last December, where he squandered a four-shot advantage to Graeme McDowell on the last day.
It was the first time he'd held the lead against a full field since his last win two years ago at Kingston Heath.
"I didn't feel any different because we had so many holes to play," Woods said.
"I mean, we had 36 holes to go. I was just out there trying to plug my way along and position my golf ball and I hit the ball well enough to shoot a good score.
"The round should have been an easy 71, no problem."
- AAP
