Woods Takes Charge at Farmers Insurance Open


It was a long Sunday in San Diego, but Tiger Woods was none the worse for wear. The 14-time major champion put himself in good position for his seventh victory in the $6.1 million Farmers Insurance Open, which started Thursday at the 36-hole Torrey Pines.

Woods, who began the day with a two-stroke, 36-hole lead in the tournament that saw Saturday's third round never start because of a heavy, day-long fog at the coastal venue, posted a 3-under 69 in the morning. He was at 17-under par - and 3-under in his final round - before play was suspended by darkness. The final round will be completed Monday morning.

After opening with a 68 (on South) followed by a 65 at North (which rotates with its neighboring course the first two rounds), the 74-time Tour winner carded five birdies and a pair of bogeys for his 69. Through seven holes in the final round, Woods fired three birdies and four pars.

Defending champion Brandt Snedeker also shot a 69 in the third round, and was 4-under through 13 holes before heading to the clubhouse. Also at 11-under is Nick Watney (68 and 3-under through eight holes).

Canadian Brad Fritsch is at 9-under through seven, and Luke Guthrie, Josh Teater, Erik Compton, Steve Marino and Casey Wittenberg were another stroke back at various junctures of their final rounds.

Playing in the group six holes ahead of Woods, Snedeker made things temporarily interesting early in the final round with four birdies on the outward half, getting to within three strokes of Woods at the turn. But Woods' early birdies and a Snedeker bogey on No. 12 gave Woods his seven-shot cushion with 11 holes to go.

"It was a successful day," Woods said at greenside. He also noted a difference in how the course played as the day wore on. "The wind picked up, it got cooler and the ball wasn't flying anywhere."

"It was a long day today - I was able to build on my lead," he said later at the press conference.

As for securing his 75th career win tomorrow, a tired Woods added, without going into too much detail, "I need to execute my game plan."

A victory tomorrow would actually be the eighth by Woods at Torrey Pines. The Southern California native also won the 2008 U.S. Open at the municipal facility bordering the Pacific Ocean.

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