Golf:A battling Tiger Woods fired a three-under 68 in the BMW Championship third round to keep alive his hopes of securing a spot in the season-ending Tour Championship.
The world number one, projected to need a top-five finish in order to be a part of an elite 30-man field in Atlanta in two weeks, produced his best round of the week on a miserable, rainy day at the Cog Hill Golf and Country Club.
"I just play, that's all I can do," said Woods when asked about his chances of qualifying for the final event in the lucrative FedExCup series. "I'm trying to win this golf tournament and right now I'm eight shots back.
"Hopefully tomorrow I can play myself into a round where I can be in contention to win.
"Guys aren't running away with the tournament. The greens are not good enough to do that...so we'll see what happens," added the 14-time major winner after finishing on level-par 213.
Playing the back nine first and stalled on level par, Woods picked up back-to-back birdies at four and five before signing off with another birdie at the ninth for his first sub-par round this week on a layout that has yielded five victories for him.
He shot a sizzling 62 on the way to his last PGA Tour victory here a year ago and will need something similar on Sunday if he wants to be at the Tour Championship.
However, recent form suggests Woods may not have that kind of low round in him after his recent divorce and a swing overhaul that remains a work in progress.
"As of now it looks like probably 61, 62 might have to be the number," said the American. "It depends what the guys do on the back nine.
"If I win the event, everything is taken care of. That's what I was trying to do today.
"I was trying to shoot six, seven under par today. I thought that would be a good number to at least give me a chance at it tomorrow. As of now I'm relying on what the leaders do this afternoon."
Rory McIlroy carded a third round 68, containing five birdies and two dropped shots, to move inside the top 50. Like Woods he will need something special in the final round to advance to the final counting event of the series.
American Ryan Moore (66) and Korea's Charlie Wi (16 holes) lead the way on eight under. Ian Poulter (17 holes), Dustin Johnson (68) and Matt Kuchar (16 holes) for the chasing pack.