Tiger Woods will head into the final round of the Genesis Open in contention for his first title at Riviera Country Club after a 6-under 65 third round to move to 10 shots back and 7-under overall for the tournament. Tiger’s round, which was his lowest score at the Genesis Open since 2004, was highlighted by a pair of eagles.
Tiger, who played his third round alongside Cody Gribble and Peter Malnati, began his third round from the 10th tee on Saturday afternoon at 3:40 p.m. local time. And he wasted no time getting to work, as he started off by going birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie on the first four holes.
Here’s how the first of two eagles in the round unfolded for Tiger. It took place at the par-5 11th tee.
5-wood to 6 feet. 🦅@TigerWoods is bringing the noise.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/llrFnUsvvT
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 17, 2019
His birdies came at the par-4 10th, 12th, and 13th holes.
Tiger would par the next three holes before play was suspended at approximately 5:45 p.m. local time when he and his group were at the par-5 17th hole.
After saying that he would get up at 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. local time the next morning for his Sunday tee time, Tiger and his group resumed play at the 17th tee at 6:45 a.m. local time. The 43-year-old Woods would par the 17th and par-4 18th holes to make the turn at 5-under 31 for the round.
Tiger’s strong play continued after the turn, as he nailed his second eagle of the round at the par-5 first hole. It was the first time that the 14-time major champion finished with two eagles in a round since the final round at the 2012 Honda Classic. It’s his 19th career round with multiple eagles.
🦅@TigerWoods is now 5 back. 👀#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/mdqPS36bC7
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 17, 2019
Tiger would then settle for par on the next six holes before his bogey-free round would come to an end, as he bogeyed the par-4 eighth hole. Tiger closed out the round with par at the par-4 ninth hole and tied for 13th.
The 80-time PGA Tour winner and his group of Gribble and Malnati are expected to begin their final round at 10:10 a.m. local time on Sunday morning from the 10th tee. Players will stay in the same groupings for both the third and fourth rounds.
The only thing standing between Tiger and a chance to win his first-ever title at the Genesis Open? A scorching-hot Justin Thomas. The 25-year-old Thomas, who is currently ranked No. 4 in the world, is 17-under for the tournament and 6-under through 12 holes in the third round. He’s looking for his first win on Tour since the Bridgestone Invitational this past August.
