For Tiger Woods, the word for the day was "steady." He didn't make a major move, but without his best game off the tee and through inclement weather, Woods stayed at 10 under. In a weather-abbreviated round, Woods produced an even-par 56 through 14 holes.
He and rival Sergio Garcia decided not to finish the 15th hole once the horn sounded. They will resume play on Sunday morning. Woods and Garcia's "rivalry" had another page added to it today as Garcia blamed the Tiger effect for a bad shot, per Steve DiMeglio of USA Today.
Woods, Garcia and Henrik Stenson are two shots behind David Lingmerth. The 25-year-old from Sweden finished 17 holes before the weather halted his play. But he was a very solid four under par for the day.
Even Woods can't be spectacular every day. Unless you're completely in a zone for four days, golfers need steady performances like this to win tournaments with elite players.
Tiger has parred the first hole on all three days. You'll likely hear no complaints from Woods or notice any major frustration if he stays even here. This is very much a "hold your ground" hole and Tiger has done that.
The tee shot left Tiger in the trees. His second shot found the top portion of the bunker, but somehow, he found a way to come away with a birdie on the hole.
The man is a magician at times. The putt he made on this hole was anything but a gimme, but he made it look relatively easy.
The short holes aren't usually Tiger's forte. He's been better this year, as he is five under on par threes after finishing 2012 at plus-five. He reverted to last year's form a bit on Saturday.
After his tee shot went a little to the left and found the rough, he got a little break with his lie. He was allowed to reposition slightly, as a drain would have disturbed his footing.
He wasn't really able to take advantage of the break, though. His second shot went long and found the vaunted bermuda.
After an amazing third shot that nearly dropped in the cup, Woods sunk a nice putt to get up and down and saved the par. At this point he remained tied with Stenson, Garcia and Maggert at 10 under.
The tee shot at the fifth hole was placed nicely; it just missed the bunker. The shot set Tiger up for a birdie attempt on the second-longest par four on the course.
He had parred this hole through the first two days and had to settle for the same result on Saturday to stay at 10 under.
After a decent tee shot, Woods' second shot came up short of the green. The pitch shot just off the green was way too short. The replay on the NBC broadcast clearly showed Woods caught the grass about an inch or so ahead of the ball.
That set up a difficult par putt, but the man is simply putting like a maniac. He saved himself again by sinking the attempt to remain at 10 under.
The competitors who are watching Tiger on Saturday have to be hoping he doesn't find himself in other facets of the game.
Mother Nature decided to put the players on pause for well over an hour. Tiger may have needed it; his accuracy off the tee and on second shots wasn't spectacular.
After the delay, Tiger maintained par on the first hole. He missed a 30-foot putt that would have given him a birdie, but the par wasn't bad coming off the delay.
Golf etiquette would normally dictate that Garcia wait for Woods to arrive before beginning play, but obviously the Spaniard didn't get that memo. He missed his putt, in any case.
After a very solid tee shot, Tiger left a birdie putt just short. This could have been a great moment for Woods on the front nine, but he couldn't take advantage.
Golf is a cruel sport. After grabbing a birdie on the ninth hole on Thursday and Friday, Tiger was in great position to make it three in a row.
Instead, he left it about two millimeters short of dropping in the cup. The par fives have been Woods' playground this week, but he had to settle for a par here.
Woods began the back nine in the same form he'd played the entire day. On Thursday and Friday, Woods appeared to be attacking the course. On Saturday, he just appeared to be surviving.
The 10th hole was another example of that. He maintained par to stay at 10 under and still just one stroke off the leaders.
A decent tee shot from Tiger gave him a shot at a birdie. It has to stick in his craw every time he walks away from a par five with anything less than a birdie.
With the wind whipping with ferocity and more inclement weather threatening, Woods had a good shot at a birdie, but it again missed just left.
The shot on the 13th hole went left, but Woods again recovered nicely. He was able to get within five feet to nail a chance to preserve his par.
On the very tough 14th hole, Woods again stayed steady with another par. Woods played this hole well, but his nemesis Garcia grabbed a birdie to join Stenson at 11 under par.
Tiger will play 21-plus holes of golf on Sunday to finish out. After a day in which he didn't have his best game, he has to feel good sitting only two shots behind the leader.
If the weather is anywhere close to what it was on Thursday and Friday, Woods has a chance to distance himself from the field.
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