After an early third day collapse Tiger Woods roared back into contention to end a 14-month winless drought at the Dubai Desert Classic.

Woods heads into the final round just one stroke from the lead after bogeying his opening two holes in the very windy conditions, and then dropping a further three strokes in two holes from the eighth to fall to three under par.

However the current World No. 3 clawed his way up the leader board with an eagle at the 10th hole and then three birdies in a score of 72 to remain at seven under par and trailing one behind three players at eight under par.

“It was tough out there, and I got off to a tough start and battled back and then lost it just before the turn,” said Woods..

“I battled back again and lost it again at 16 and then battled back at 18.

“So, it was a tough day.”

Leading is the trio of Denmark’s Anders Hansen (71), who played alongside Woods, South African Thomas Aiken (74) and Britain’s Rory McIlroy (75) at eight under par.

Woods shares fourth place with six others at seven-under par – Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonett (72), Australia’s Brett Rumford (72), Sweden’s Fredrik Andersson-Hed (69) and the Spanird trio of Alvaro Quiros (68), Alvaro Velasco (65) and Sergio Garcia (75).

In fact, there are 20 players within three shots of the lead.

Woods is looking for a first victory since capturing the 2009 Australian Masters and is successful in the UAE, it will be his third triumph after previously winning in 2006 and 2008.

“I am only one back and still right in the ball game,” he said.

“There’s a bunch of guys in there with a chance and with the weather tomorrow, you never know.”

Garcia, who is also looking to end a two-year winless drought, was leading at nine under par with one hole to play when he took a double bogey ‘six’ at the 17th.

Garcia’s drive landed in bushes from where he had to take a penalty drop.

The 30-year old Spaniard’s last win was the 2009 HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.