Tiger Takes Command at Tour Championship

By DOUG FERGUSON

ATLANTA – Tiger Woods never liked tournaments where birdies were required simply to keep up. He managed just fine Saturday at the Tour Championship, where a 6-under 64 only allowed him to keep his three-shot margin at the pushover known as East Lake.

Even after a week of low scoring because of soft, slow greens, the third round was mystifying.

Zach Johnson flirted with a 59 until he hit into a bunker on the par-3 18th hole and had to settle for a par and a course-record 60. Mark Calcavecchia shot a 63 and only picked up one shot on the world’s No. 1 player.

Woods was watching and laughing from the par-5 15th fairway as Calcavecchia made eagle to join him atop the leaderboard, but that didn’t last long. Woods birdied his next two holes, and missed a 7-foot birdie on the final hole that put him at 19-under 191.

It was the lowest 54-hole start in Woods career, and it left him poised to win at East Lake for the first time. Woods has never lost a professional tournament when leading by more than one shot going into the final round.

As for the FedEx Cup?

Phil Mickelson still has a mathematical chance, but the odds are about the same as winning the lottery without buying a ticket. Lefty’s only hope was winning the Tour Championship and having Woods finish lower than second by himself. Mickelson shot 70 and was 13 shots behind, so assuming he doesn’t shoot 56 on Sunday, the $10 million goes into Woods’ retirement account.

All that remains, even if Woods doesn’t win his seventh tournament of the year, is how low the scores will go Sunday. The tournament record is 17-under 263, set by Bart Bryant two years ago.