Despite losing a ball up a palm tree at the 17th hole, Tiger Woods tamed the Blue Monster for a third day running and now is just one round away from a seventh WGC – Cadillac Championship.

The 14-time Major’s tee shot at the dog-leg right par four hole hooked right into a palm tree.

However a PGA Tour rules official then asked Woods the markings on his Nike ball and the official, using a pair of binoculars then confirmed Woods’ ball.

“When everyone was pointing up there:  Galleries, media, officials, markers, everybody was just pointing up in the tree,” said Woods.

“And it got to a point where I was probably about, maybe 60 yards away and I could see the ball in the tree, identified with binoculars and saw my line on the ball.  I took a drop and unfortunately it wasn’t the lie I needed to play the shot.  I hit a hell of a shot just to keep it on the green.

“Yeah, it was a very interesting last couple weeks.  I had two lost balls last week and then I got one stuck in the tree this week.”

Woods then wasted little time taking a penalty drop and then finding the green with his third before two-putting for bogey.  It was only the sixth bogey in his round and after three days where Woods had also picked up 23 birdies including 17 after 36-holes that was a career low for Woods.

However the slight hiccup late in Woods’ third round has not stalled the former long-time World No. 1 maintaining a stranglehold on the $8.75m tournament.

Woods ended his day with the 24th birdie of the week in a round of 67 to move to 18-under par and four strokes clear of fellow US Open champion, Graeme McDowell (69) at 14-under par.

Woods will not be looking for a seventh WGC – Cadillac Championship success but a 76th PGA Tour victory.

And here’s a telling statistic – Woods has never lost an event when leading by three shots or more ahead of a last round.

Woods responded to this saying: “Well, I’m finally healthy and that has a lot to do with it.  I’m able to make changes with Sean and those have been pretty much implemented.

“We are just making fine tunes, each and every day you have little bitty adjustments here and there but the major overhauls are done and now I have more time to dedicate to my short game and that’s allowed me to win some golf tournaments last year and obviously win at Torrey this year.”

A rules official (bottom right of picture) uses binoculars to identify Tiger Woods ball. (Photo – NBC TV)

Tiger Woods ball resting in a palm tree at the 17th hole. Can you see a face on the tree? (Photo – NBC TV)