Tiger stalks Gore in search of Wyndham win

Tiger Woods kept his bid for a first title since 2013 on track with a two-under par 68 that left him two shots behind third-round leader Jason Gore at the Wyndham Championship.

The former world number one, also trying to play his way into the US PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs, began yesterday tied for the lead at 11-under par.

He arrived at Sedgefield Country Club’s 18th hole in sole possession of second place on 14-under, but a bogey at the last saw him drop into a three-way tie for second behind Gore -- who carded an <g data-gr-id="35">eight-under par</g> 62 for 195.

Woods was joined on 197 by Sweden’s Jonas Blixt, who fired a 62 and American Scott Brown, who signed for a 66.

“I need to go out there on Monday and make a run and get myself up there and make some birdies,” said Woods. “There’s a bunch of guys ... at 13 (under). “There’s a whole slew of guys at 12, 11, 10. 

Anybody can make a run and shoot the score Jason and Jonas did.”

The resurgent Woods -- coming off a missed cut at the PGA Championship that marked his third straight early exit from a major championship -- drew huge crowds on Saturday and he didn’t disappoint. He opened with a birdie at the first hole to briefly take the outright lead.

By the time he birdied the fifth, he was tied for the lead with Blixt on 13-under.

Woods slid a 12-foot birdie attempt just past the hole at the sixth -- one of several birdie chances that failed to drop.

He also made several good par saves, including a 16-footer at the 10th. “The putter just felt really good,” Woods said. “My pace, I felt like I could be aggressive.” He rolled in a 12-footer for birdie at 16 to move within one shot of the <g data-gr-id="40">lead,</g> and made another par save with a testing four-foot downhill putt at 17.