8.30 pm
PARAPARAUMU - Tiger Woods splashed his way into contention in the New Zealand Golf Open on Saturday, shooting a 4-under-par 67 to close within six strokes of the lead.
Woods is on a total of 3-under par.
The lead is shared by Kiwi Steve Alker and Australia's Stephen Leaney on 9 under. Alker, who is three-under to date on his third round, and Leaney have played 13 and 12 holes respectively.
Michael Campbell's posted the round of the day, a five-under-par 66. He's in a share of third place alongside experienced Aussie professional Craig Parry.
The round was delayed by rain and flooding for a total of 3 hours, 15 minutes, after play was suspended at around 2.00 pm.
Woods said the greens were inconsistent and bumpy.
"It doesn't really matter on some of your reads," said Woods, whose caddie, Steve Williams, grew up near the Paraparaumu Beach course. "Sometime they break left and bounce right. You hit and hope it will find its way to the bottom."
Woods, who spent the rain delay "eating a lot and watching TV," said he got some help from the course workers when they rolled water off the greens.
"The good positive thing is with the rain coming down like that they squeegee the greens and that makes them a little bit smoother," Woods said. "I made the putts on those greens."
Woods and playing partner, New Zealand's Martin Pettigrew, started the third round as heavy rain hit the course, reducing visibility and making conditions close to unplayable.
Woods got off to a terrible start in the rain with a double bogey on the opening hole. He hit his tee shot into the right rough and needed four shots to get to the green.
He birdied the second and fourth holes and made an 8-foot eagle putt on No. 6 after driving the green on the 250-metre, par-4 hole. After settling for par on the par-5 seventh, he made a curling 3-metre birdie putt on No. 8. He followed with three straight pars and was in the middle of the 12th fairway when play was suspended.
After the delay, he returned to birdie the 12th, but dropped a stroke with a bogey on No. 13. He made a two metre birdie putt on No. 15 to reach 3 under, but lost another stroke with a bogey on No. 17.
Woods finished with a birdie - his third of the tournament on the par-5 18th - after just missing a long eagle putt.
Jae An, the 13-year-old amateur from South Korea who attends school in New Zealand, continued to impress in his first professional tournament, shooting a 71 for a 3-over total.
14 golfers - including most of the leaders - are still in the middle of their 3rd round, and will complete that round early Sunday.
Ben Campbell is now a full time LIV Golf player.