More woe for Woods

Tiger Woods was bracing himself to lose the world number one ranking after a woeful third round left him 11 over par at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Woods shot a 75 to go with his opening 74 and second-round 72 and lay 18 shots behind clubhouse leader Retief Goosen in 78th place.

He picked up five bogeys, including two on the final two holes, and a double bogey at the par-four eighth to leave fellow American Phil Mickelson, one shot behind Goosen with both players yet to start their third round, firmly on course to take the number one berth.

A top-four finish coupled with Woods finishing outside the top 44 would see Mickelson assume top spot.

Things were looking brighter for Steve Stricker and Heath Slocum, though, as the pair began their steady climbs up the leaderboard.

Stricker eagled the par-five second hole to lie two under through three and three under for the tournament, four shots adrift of Goosen.

Slocum, always playing catch-up after his opening-round 75, was four under through 11 holes to move on to one under for the tournament.

Slocum hit three straight birdies at the second, third and fourth holes and picked up another shot at the seventh.

Sergio Garcia, after a pair of 70s in his opening two rounds, also got off to a positive start, two under through five, and overall, thanks to birdies at the second and fifth.

The Spaniard was level with Ernie Els, who picked up a birdie at the first and was one under after two holes to lie two under for the tournament.