Tiger Woods of the U.S. watches his drive from the fifth tee during third round play at the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club yesterday. Woods shot a one-under 69 to be two strokes off the lead going into today's final round. - ReutersOAKMONT, Pennsylvania (AP):
AARON BADDELEY escaped with an amazing par from deep rough at the base of a bunker on the 17th hole, finished strong with a birdie for an even-par 70 and wound up with a two-shot lead over Woods after three rounds of the U.S. Open yesterday.
The Australian who was beating world-class players as an amateur now faces the biggest test of his career.
Nearly perfect
Woods was nearly perfect from tee-to-green, hitting every green in regulation until he had to lay up from the rough on the 18th hole and took his only bogey for a 69, one of only two rounds under par even though Oakmont Country Club's fearsome greens showed a softer side.
Woods, who has never won a major when trailing going into the final round, will be playing in the last group at a major for the second time this year.
He was one shot behind at the Masters and tied for second.
"I've been there before, and I know what it takes," Woods said.
Woods went out in two-under 33, with birdies at the third and fourth holes. It could have been better - Woods saw several putts stay tantalisingly on the lip of the cup.
"I hit a lot of good putts that grazed the edge, but hey, I put myself right there in the tournament," Woods said. "Right in the mix."
Woods, who started the daymore than an hour ahead of the leaders, put himself in perfect position to be in the final group of today's final round.
"Today was awfully important keeping myself within range or even trying to get close to the lead," Woods said.
Paul Casey shot a 72 and was at five-over 215 with Stephen Ames (73), Justin Rose (73) and Bubba Watson (75), who made a triple bogey from the left side of the ninth green, but steadied himself with pars and a lone bogey the rest of the way.
