Woods feeling fortunate at Australian Masters

It was an indifferent Woods on Saturday as he struggled, mixing two birdies with two bogeys, to let his rivals back into the contest.

Tiger Woods wrestled to stay in the lead of the Australian Masters after a third round he described as "terrible" and "atrocious" in parts at Kingston Heath here on Saturday.

The world's best golfer considered himself fortunate to be in a three-way share of the lead after plundering the course at 10-under for the opening 36 holes.

It was an indifferent Woods on Saturday as he struggled, mixing two birdies with two bogeys, to let his rivals back into the contest, considered done and dusted by one bookmaker who paid out all Tiger bets even with two rounds left.

The world number one (66-68-72) goes into Sunday's final round locked in the lead with Australians Greg Chalmers (68-69-69) and James Nitties (66-71-69) on 10-under 206.

- I have played myself into a tie for the lead, I could have easily have played myself straight out of the tournament - Woods conceded.

- But I grinded it out and hung in and turned around what should have been well over par into a par round.

- That's a huge positive going into tomorrow and just hopefully I'll do some work tonight and should be good for tomorrow. -

The 14-time Major winner, making his first tournament appearance in Australia for 11 years, went into the third round leading by three strokes, but he blamed his scratchy form on a poor warmup.

- It was a bad warmup today, I didn't hit the ball well on the driving range and the golf course wasn't very good either - he said.

- I hit some really good shots out there as well, but I also hit some terrible shots and it was either/or, there was no grey area today.

- I either hit a good putt or hit an atrocious putt. -

Woods will go after his first Australian title and 93rd overall Sunday playing in the second-last group with Australian Cameron Percy, who is in a tie for fourth with American Jason Dufner on eight-under 208.

- I know what to do, that's the thing, and when I did it right today I hit some really good shots - Woods said. - It's just a matter of doing it consistently right for all 18 holes. -

The signs looked good for Woods to stretch his overnight lead after birdying the second hole, but it was a grind from there for the all-time golfing great.

Woods holed a 30-footer at the second to howls of delight from the large gallery, but he came to grief at the next with his second bogey of the tournament.

His approach chip left him on the edge of the third green and he left his putt four feet short and three-putted for bogey.

He had a mixed outward nine holes and missed a five-footer for birdie on the sixth as playing partner Dufner joined him in the lead after three birdies in four holes.

Chalmers raced to the outright lead after four birdies in his outward nine.

Woods slumped to his second bogey of the round at the par-3 11th after he missed the green and then over-cooked his putt to the opposite side of the green and missed the long putt back to fall two shots behind the lead.

Woods picked up only his second birdie of the day at the 14th when his eagle putt finished within two feet leaving him with an easy task.

He had a chance to regain the outright lead at the 16th and last holes but missed with birdie putts.

Chalmers, who has not won at home since his 1998 Australian Open triumph, is blocking out any thoughts of dicing with Woods for the winner's golden jacket on Sunday.

- My confidence has been pretty good and I don't look at it that I'm leading any particular one player - said the left-hander, who finished runnerup to Woods at the Buick Open in Michigan last August.

- I'm sure the organisers would love for Tiger to win tomorrow and the sponsors, but they are getting a great story already regardless because either way if Tiger wins or somebody beats Tiger, it's still going to be written that way. -