Illness had left Tiger Woods with the slightest of whispers in posting a three under par 69 on day three of the Hero World Challenge at Windermere in Florida.

The Woods roar that has seen him capture 14 Majors had disappeared and with journalist gathered around him struggling to hear what the current World No. 24 was saying.

Woods had been coughing badly on the first tee and politely declined to shake hands with playing partner Billy Horschel or officials in not wanting to pass on his illness ahead of teeing-up in the $3.5m event he’s hosting at the Isleworth Estate.

However after playing his first shot down the first he walked to the side of the fairway where he was seen bent over and was dry reaching.

Tiger Woods ends his third round three hours after teeing off with only his eighth sub-70 all season. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

But then Woods played a superb second shot to record a birdie at the opening hole for a second day running, and after starting the event with a double bogey on Thursday.

Woods says is on anti-biotics as he continued to battle a high fever and something he believes he picked up from his children while his mother, Tida has also contracted the bug.

The former long-time World No. 1 rushed around the course and ending his round some three hours later in sending a 170-yard 8-iron shot to four feet and holing the four foot birdie putt.

Despite the pleasure of posting only his seventh sub-70 score in 28 rounds this season Woods could hardly speak above a whisper at the end of his round and declaring he wanted to continue rather than withdraw.

Despite seriously struggling with illness Tiger Woods delights a group of Tiger Woods Foundation members with a group photo after his round of 69. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

“You all know men and all I wanted to do was try and hang in there and I felt my fever just broke I would be alright and that happened on the front nine,” he said.

“I probably picked up something off the kids and I remember I picked up a bug from them and was feeling poorly when I played in Turkey last year.

“But the good thing is that I haven’t thrown up for hours not since last night and also Billy’s (Horchel) is a good kid as we played pretty fast to also get out of this heat.

“Though this is different as I was not in any pain and just a little under the weather.  I haven’t been able to eat that much only hydrate myself and I’ve hardly any sleep, at all.

“My mum also has come down the same sickness and she’s trying to hang in as well as she can.”

Woods will start the final round of his last event of 2014 at last place at level par in the 18-player event and 16 shots behind newly-crowned Australian Open champ, Jordan Spieth who had raced five clear of his rivals on 16-under par mid-round.