Adam Bland stretched his lead to three shots as he closed in on an unheralded victory in the Australian Masters (AFP)
Adam Bland stretched his lead to three shots as he closed in on an unheralded victory in the Australian Masters and left Tiger Woods flailing in his wake after a soggy third round.
Adam Bland stretched his lead to three shots as he closed in on an unheralded victory in the Australian Masters and left Tiger Woods flailing in his wake after a soggy third round.
The Australian defied persistent rain at Victoria Golf Club to relegate 14-time major winner Woods and the other big names to supporting roles as he carved out a one-under 70 to be 11-under 202 for the tournament.
Heading into Sunday's final 18 holes with the weather forecast to improve, Woods will somehow have to make up 10 strokes if he is to break his 2010 tournament drought.
Bland, who won twice on the Canadian tour in 2007, leads compatriot Daniel Gaunt (65-72-68) on eight-under 205 with Andre Stolz (67-67-72) third on seven-under 206.
Woods birdied the last hole to finish with par 71 but that only camouflaged another non-descript round of three birdies and three bogeys.
"I didn't putt very good today and I struggled all day again so that's why I'm even par," Woods said. "I just didn't make any putts and you have to make putts.
"I need a low one tomorrow but unfortunately I'm so far back that even with a low score I still need help from the leaders," said Woods.
"I hope to get off to a quick start tomorrow and get it going."
Woods, 34, last won in Melbourne before a spectacular fall from grace in the wake of a sex scandal that engulfed his personal and professional life.
Apart from the breakup of his marriage, the upheaval also cost Woods his world number one ranking -- which went to Englishman Lee Westwood this month -- after a 281-week run at the top.
The putter again failed Woods as puddles formed on the fairways and bunkers from the incessant rain.
Over the three rounds Woods had needed 95 putts compared to leader Bland's 82.
Woods, who began the third round trailing Bland by nine strokes, lost even more ground on the leader in Saturday's round.
He had bogeys at the second and sixth holes, before going birdie-bogey-birdie to make the turn at one-over 36.
He missed out on a few promising chances before picking up his third birdie from three feet at the last.
Ground staff were called to sweep surface water off the sodden fairways and some greens as the rain intensified in the afternoon after heavy overnight rain.
Woods looked a forlorn figure in the miserable conditions as he struggled to recapture form with his remodelled swing.
However he was not the only overseas drawcard all at sea in the conditions, as Spain's Sergio Garcia dropped to joint 26th with a six-over 77 after his six-under 65 on Friday.
Garcia took out his frustrations by whacking his golf bag with his club after a poor shot midway through his round.
The Spaniard gained notoriety for his temper tantrum at this year's US PGA Championship when he slammed his club into a bunker five times before hurling his club at his bag following a poor bunker shot.
Australian Ryan Haller had the day's best round of five-under 66 to lie joint fourth.
© 2010 AFP/sid
