WOODSTOCK, Ga. - Considering all that went wrong for Tiger Woods in the American Express Championship, he had no trouble finding the good news Saturday.
"I got in the clubhouse," he said. "And I still have the lead."
Despite double bogey on the 16th hole and an aggressive charge by Vijay Singh, Woods walked off the Capital City Club in the position where he thrives - in possession of a 54-hole lead - and with a chance to win a fifth time this year.
Woods, who led by five after two rounds, made par on the final two holes for 1-under 69 and was two shots ahead of Singh going into today's final round of a $6-million World Golf Championship that became packed with drama in the third round.
The final pairing includes Woods, at 8-under 202, who probably needs to win the $1.05-million first prize to capture the PGA Tour money title for a record fifth straight year. He plays with Singh, who leads the money list, about $475,000 ahead of Woods.
They are not the best of friends, and they have a history. Singh's former caddie wrote "Tiger Who?" on his cap when Woods and Singh squared off in the Presidents Cup three years ago, a match Woods won with ease. He still talks about that match when he speaks at clinics.
"It's going to be a lot of fun," Woods said. "There are probably four guys that have a chance of winning."
Singh made that possible with 6-under 64, the best round of the tournament.
"I could have gone lower, but 64 is a great number for me," Singh said. "It's going to be a good boost for tomorrow."
Tim Herron recovered from double bogey after his tee shot slammed into a portable toilet left of the ninth fairway. He birdied three of the next four holes, finished with 67 and was three behind at 205. Herron is paired with K.J. Choi, winner of last year's Tampa Bay Classic at Innisbrook, whose 68 left him at 206.
Huston maintains lead
MADISON, Miss. - John Huston of Palm Harbor made three straight birdies on the back nine and shot 4-under 68 to retain a two-stroke lead after the third round of the PGA's Southern Farm Bureau Classic.
Huston, trying for his first win in three years, had a four-stroke lead after birdies on 12, 13 and 14. But he dropped a stroke on No. 17 and made par on the par-5 18th.
"I was a little disappointed that I didn't stretch it out a little more, but I'm still in the lead. I'm in good position," Huston said. "I'm going to have to go out and shoot a low score tomorrow."
Huston was 16 under after three rounds. Paul Stankowski (66), Hidemichi Tanaka (68) and Chris Anderson (67) were tied for second at 202.
Huston did some quality work out of the sand on the front nine. He got up and down on Nos. 2 and 5, the first to save par and the second for birdie. He found sand again on No. 7, left his shot 15 feet short but made the birdie putt to go 14 under.
On the par-3 12th he hit 8-iron to within 4 feet of the pin. He nearly holed his second shot at No. 13, and he capped his birdie trifecta with an 18-footer on the par-4 No. 14.
LONGS DRUGS CHALLENGE: Helen Alfredsson tied the tournament record with 8-under-par 64 to take the lead after three rounds in Lincoln, Calif. Alfredsson, who hasn't won an LPGA event since 1998, led a group of four at 11-under 205.
Second-round leader Se Ri Pak shot 71 and was one back with Rachel Teske, Jung Yeon Lee and Pat Hurst, who each shot 66.
Alfredsson has four wins on the tour and has 14 international victories, but she has had her worst year with $77,229 in 17 events. Her best finish is 11th.
Alfredsson had a bogey-free round with four birdies on each side. She finished with a wedge to within 7 feet at No. 18 and sank the putt.
