Late stumbles cost Woods shot at big move

SPRINGFIELD, N.J. - The steam coming out of Tiger Woods wasn't from the oppressive heat.

He banged his hand into a sign as he walked to the scoring trailer Saturday, then grudgingly gave an interview to TNT Sports that began with, "I'm not real happy right now."

Woods had just shot 66, his best round of the week. It felt like his worst.

His goal was to post a low enough number to get him under par for the first time in the tournament, then hope that Phil Mickelson and the guys chasing him wouldn't get too far away.

It worked until the end of his third round, when Woods twice put himself in position for a birdie at worst and both times had to settle for par 5s.

Woods finished in a tie for 20th at even-par 210, the first time he's been at par since the opening hole Thursday, good enough to shave six strokes off Mickelson's lead but still six behind Mickelson and Davis Love.

"I thought if I shot 63 today, it would be a pretty good number," Woods said. "It's certainly out there."

He got his answer about three hours later when good friend Thomas Bjorn tied the major championship record with 63 to finish at 5-under 205.

Woods has never come back from more than five shots in the final round to win. Still, there was a lot of golf to be played, and he was watching from his rented house 10 miles away.

"You don't know," Woods said when asked if his chance for a third major this year was gone. "Guys have come back from 10 back in majors and have won."