Woods' wonder shot re-ignites victory bid

After two days of stuttering along in second gear, Tiger Woods re-ignited his bid for a fourth successive victory in the NEC world championship in Seattle.

Three birdies in the first seven holes of his third round - and, just as importantly, no bogeys this time - took Woods from 17th place to fifth.

At seven under par he was one behind Justin Rose and only three behind joint leaders Robert Allenby and Steve Lowery.

Once more there was a shot from the world number one that had the fans talking as he made his move for a feat last achieved on the US Tour by Gene Sarazen at the Miami Open from 1926 to 1930.

After hooking his drive into the trees on the 509-yard second he was lucky to have both a clear swing and a route to the green.

While playing partner Kenny Perry chose to lay up short of the water from just ahead of him Woods hit a towering iron that carried the lake and rolled to the back of the green, from where he two-putted for birdie.

It acted as a spark and he picked up further strokes on the 385-yard fourth and 417-yard seventh.

At that point a look at the leaderboard told him he was five adrift of Allenby, but the Australian, having followed up his course record 63 in the second round with birdies at the first two holes, then double-bogeyed the fourth.

Rose, pushing thoughts of the million-dollar first prize to the back of his mind, birdied the long second and climbed into a share of second spot, but then bogeyed the fourth to return to eight under.

Lee Westwood's encouraging form continued with birdies at the second and short fifth, but the former European number one, without a win for 22 months and down from fourth in the world in May last year to 144th, bogeyed the next two holes and slid back to joint eighth on five under.

They were the only two British and Irish players in the thick of the action.

Darren Clarke had five birdies in his first 11 holes, but also four bogeys to be three under, while fellow Ulsterman Graeme McDowell eagled the 544-yard 11th, but sandwiched it between two bogeys and stood two under - still a good effort in only his sixth professional event.

Padraig Harrington was one over with six to play and Phillip Price, Paul McGinley and Paul Lawrie all six over.