Ponte Vedre, Florida ….
Tiger Woods brilliantly produced his lowest TPC Sawgrass score thanks to a sizzling a 65 on day three of the Players Championship in Florida
Woods bettered his prevvious low a shot in playing the Stadium course to put in the clubhouse then sharing the lead at eight-under
It also was Woods’ lowest score this season by three shots and a lowest round since December 2016 in signing for a similar 65 on day two of the 2016 Hero World Challenge.
Woods ended his round nearly 90-minutes before overnight leader Webb Simpson was due to tee-off and leading the Players by five shots at 15-under par.
Eyes of the Tiger – Tiger Woods on route to a 2018 Players third round 65. (Photo – @pgatour)
Woods had faced an anxious Friday afternoon wait having finished his round with a one-under par tally and while the weekend cut at one stage went to two-under, the round ended with the likes Woods, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth making it right on the one-under mark.
The 42-year old former long-time World No. 1 quickly lit-up the Florida course with four birdies in his opening five holes and had a huge crowd roaring with delight, and with the cheers being heard as far as the course car parks.
Woods then made the turn at six-under with birdies at seven and the ninth.
Woods went to eight-under for his round with birdies at 11 and the short 12th hole where he put a 40-yard chip shot to six feet.
He dropped his only shot at the 14th before posting four closing pars to be tied for the clubhouse lead on eight-under with Spieth who also posted a 65.
“I finally got off to a good start in birdieing the first couple of holes and I just kept it rolling from here,” he said.
“I played a lot of good shots out there today and it was nice to see a few putts go in.
“Overall on the whole day I just hit a lot of quality shots and a 65 was probably the highest I could have shot.
“I felt also a lot more comfortable with my driver and could be a bit more aggressive off the tees and consequently I had a lot of 9-irons and on down into the greens as the ball is just flying forever in this humidly.
“Like at the last I had 196-yards into the green and I was hitting 9-iron and so the ball is going a long way and the golf course is playing short.”
