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LA JOLLA, California: Three-time defending champion Tiger Woods
fired a six-under par 66 Saturday to open an eight-shot lead at the
$5.2-million PGA Buick Invitational.
Woods, who is hoping to pocket the $936,000 in
first-place prize money on Sunday, is at 18-under 198 after 54 holes
and leads American Stewart Cink by eight shots and Joe Durant by
nine. Cink carded a 69 and Durant a 67.
“If it was over they would be handing me the
trophy today,” Woods said. “I just have to play my own game and
put a number in my head and go get it. I have to be steady and never
make a bogey.”
Woods’ bogey-free round Saturday included six
birdies on the Torrey Pines golf course near San Diego.
“The hardest thing about today was trying to
take the spin off golf ball,” he said.
Woods’ eight-stroke lead going into the final
round shattered the tournament record of five shared by Gene Littler
in 1954, Bob Goalby in 1967 and J.C. Snead in 1976.
“I’d like to have the biggest lead you can
possibly have,” Woods said. “You’ve still got to go out there
and play well and post a number.”
Woods, who is gunning for his fourth straight
and sixth career title in this event, tied the 54-hole tournament
record, established by Woody Blackburn in 1985.
-- AFP
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