Hoffman builds 5-shot lead as Woods fades in Bahamas
03 Dec 2017
NASSAU, Bahamas — Charley Hoffman handled the blustery conditions for a five-shot lead in the Hero World Challenge as Tiger Woods fell 10 shots behind. The wind was the strongest it has been all week at Albany Golf Club, and it showed in the scores Saturday. Hoffman had a 2-under 70 that matched the best score of the day, and only three other players broke par.
The wind also took the air out of any hopes that Woods, playing for the first time in 10 months following a fourth back surgery, would get into the mix at his holiday tournament. Instead, he was blown away early and battled late for a 75.
Woods opened with four bogeys in seven holes. He went 11 consecutive holes without hitting a green. He didn't have a birdie putt on four of the par 5s he played. And he didn't make a birdie until the 14th green, removing his cap to acknowledge the crowd and holding up a finger to indicate his first birdie.
It's ridiculous it took me 14 holes to make a birdie, Woods said. At that time, I'd already played four par 5s and nothing happened. Just one of those days. Anything I did right ended up in a bad spot, and then everything I did wrong, it was really bad.
Hoffman hit his share, sending his tee shot far right into the bushes on a sand dune right of the 10th fairway. He took a penalty drop onto a sandy path and wound up with a double bogey that brought a half-dozen players back into the mix.
But not for long. Hoffman closed with three birdies over his last five holes, including the 18th hole for the second straight day. That put him at 14-under 202. Justin Rose, an Albany resident, had a 71 and joined British Open champion Jordan Spieth (72) at 9-under 207. Francesco Molinari of Italy was another shot behind.
Woods was under pressure early. In his previous two rounds of 69 and 68, he was under par early in the round. This one started with a tee shot into the waste area, an approach the wind knocked down short of the green and a chip that was too strong, running 10 feet by and leading to a bogey.
Even his good shots didn't work out for him. Woods blistered a 3-wood from 278 yards into the wind and saw it run through the green into a tough lie. His chip didn't reach the green. His next chip ran 6 feet by the hole and he missed the par putt.
He bogeyed the next par 5 when he didn't play for a flyer out of the rough, went well long and was left in such a tough spot that he played away from the flag and his pitch went through the green to the fringe.
He already was 5 over for his round through 10 holes, and he did well not to drop any more shots until he made a pair of birdies late.
Woods began his round by giving a hug to his 10-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son, who flew over from Florida. Even after a 75, he still managed to look at the big picture. He was hitting the ball well, his back felt strong and he at least feels as though he can contend.
This is the second straight year the 54-hole leader has built a cushion. Hideki Matsuyama led by seven shots last year and held on to beat Henrik Stenson.
Atwal, de Jager share
lead in Mauritius
Arjun Atwal and Louis de Jager are tied for the lead going into the final round of the Mauritius Open. Atwal had a four-shot lead after the opening round but that was whittled down over the last two days and de Jager's third-round 67 meant he will go into Sunday alongside Atwal on 13 under overall.
South Africa's de Jager had four birdies at Heritage Golf Club on Saturday and watched India's Atwal make a three-putt bogey on the last hole to leave them level.
Atwal last won a tournament on the European Tour in 2008, while de Jager is looking for a first tour title.
They are one shot ahead of Dylan Frittelli (68) and Miguel Tabuena (67). Louis Oosthuizen, the highest-ranked player at the tournament at No. 22, is one of a large bunch of players tied on 7 under. — AP