ESPN 2007 Masters

Updated: April 8, 2007, 10:52 AM ET

Woods runs hot and cold in third round

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By Bob Harig
Special to ESPN.com
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AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The frigid air had nothing on Tiger Woods. He did his best to warm Augusta National late Saturday afternoon, his hot disposition a stark contrast to the cold temperatures that have turned the 71st Masters into a winter sport.

Woods was steaming because he had bogeyed the final two holes, turning what would have been the lowest round of the day into what seemed to be an ordinary 72. He was annoyed because for the second time in three days he had let a good round slip away. And he was mad because, well, you just can't make those kind of mistakes and win major championships.

And so there was a tinge of attitude from Woods when asked if he still was confident about his chances of winning a fifth green jacket and 13th major championship.

Andrew Redington/Getty ImagesDespite a bogey-bogey finish, Woods will be in the final pairing on Sunday.

Uh, yes he does.

Because as Woods was working out his frustrations on the driving range, he got some help. Stuart Appleby butchered the 17th hole, making a triple-bogey. Justin Rose bogeyed two of the last three holes. Vaughn Taylor bogeyed the last three.

And Woods looked up and found himself in the final pairing today with Appleby. Wow.

Given the history around here, that is huge. In one of golf's more remarkable streaks, the winner has come from the final pairing at the Masters in each of the past 16 years.

So that suggests either Appleby or Woods will win, but then there is this tidbit: Woods has never won a major coming from behind.

Of course, the stroke that separates them could be gone before you settle into your couch to watch. But it is interesting to note that Woods has won 12 major championships, and each time he did so with at least a share of the final-round lead.

This time, he won't have a cushion. Rose is tied with Woods; Padraig Harrington, Zach Johnson and Taylor are just another stroke back. Phil Mickelson, who has yet to match par, and Retief Goosen, who began the day tied for 45th, are among a half-dozen players within four of the lead.

"You had to stay patient," Woods said of the conditions. "You had to hit quality shots and get very lucky at the same time. You can hit a great shot and get absolutely hosed out here."

Woods made two birdies on the front nine to shoot 34 and get right back into the tournament. And then it quickly became apparent that holding on instead of surging ahead was going to be the order of the day.

A bogey at the 12th was followed by a birdie at the 13th for Woods, but he made his first three-putt of the tournament at the par-5 15th after hitting the green in two. After a solid two-putt for par at the 16th, Woods found trouble off the tee at the 17th.

He didn't have a shot to the green, so he tried some gymnastics, contorting and twisting to hit a cut shot up and over the trees in his line. The ball plugged in the bunker, leading to a bogey.

"I should have got committed to 20, 30 yards past and put the ball in the gallery, over the green," he said. "Where I put it, the best you could do is a 20-footer and hope you make a putt for par."

At 18, Woods' approach shot got knocked down by the wind, leading to another bogey and a seemingly blown opportunity.

Instead, he's in the position he would certainly never turn down.

"You don't have to step out on a limb and say Tiger has an advantage," said Appleby, who has never won a major -- just like everyone else in the top seven other than Woods. "He has more experience than what's left of this field put together."

Somewhat forgotten in all of this is the fact that Woods is on the verge of another major accomplishment, a third straight major title -- something that has occurred just twice before in the modern era.

Perhaps everyone was too cold to think about it.

Bob Harig covers golf for the St. Petersburg Times and is a frequent contributor to ESPN.com. He can be reached at harig@sptimes.com.