ZACH JOHNSON NEEDED something special to track Tiger Woods down at the Chevron World Challenge. Holing a 7-iron from the 18th fairway for eagle did the trick Saturday.
Johnson’s shot from 163 yards landed near the cup and spun into the hole, giving him a 4-under 68 and a one-shot lead over Woods going into the final round at Sherwood Country Club.
It was the second eagle on the back nine for Johnson, who also chipped in on the par-5 11th.
Woods had the 36-hole lead for the second straight tournament, and for the second straight time failed to break par in the third round. He had three bogeys on the par 5s and had to settle for a 73, though he had few complaints.
The wind was strong and chilly from the start, and rarely stayed the same direction very long. With a wedge in his hand, Woods went some 40 feet long on the second hole that led to a three-putt bogey. Another wedge on the par-5 13th sailed over the green and left a pitch he had no chance to get close.
Both players ran into trouble on the par-5 16th.
Johnson was playing in the group ahead of Woods, felt the breeze in his face and tried to hammer a driver that went left of the grass and into the gallery. He tried to clear a creek and went into the trees to the right before pitching out and taking a bogey.
Woods was in the fairway, but says a gust took his fairway metal too far right and into a hazard. He thought about trying to hit out behind a pair of rocks before choosing to take a penalty drop, and he also made bogey.
The difference was how they finished.
Johnson three-putted the 17th for another bogey, then drilled his 7-iron at the flag on the 18th for the most unlikely finish to his round. The eagle put him at 8-under 208.
Woods had to settle for pars.
The wind was so confounding that the final group was still on the 16th green after four hours, nearly two holes behind the group ahead of them.
“Even though I made three bogeys on the par 5s, I played well,” Woods said. “I’m right there with a chance.”
– Doug Ferguson, AP
