Stung after a double-bogey, bogey finish to the previous round, Geoff Ogilvy charged into contention with a spectacular nine-under-par 63 at the Memorial tournament. The Australian fired the best score of the week in the third round at Muirfield Village Golf Club, ending a sunny day two shots behind pacesetting Americans Matt Bettencourt and Mark Wilson.
Overnight leaders Jim Furyk and Jonathan Byrd of the US fired topsy-turvy 71s to finish at eight under, a stroke in front of Ogilvy and Davis Love III (69).
World number one Woods, bidding for a record fourth title at Memorial, was tied for seventh at five under after covering the tricky back nine in three under par for a 68.
"Obviously, I'm very happy," Ogilvy told reporters after posting a seven-under total of 209. "I hit some pretty decent shots and when I missed the green I seemed to be in spots where I could get up and down.
"I made a few long putts, a couple of 20-footers, and hit a few close. Obviously all 63s are nice but this was just a comfortable day."
Ogilvy, who had carded 72 and 74 in the first two rounds on one of the PGA Tour's toughest layouts, piled up nine birdies in a flawless display on Saturday.
"It was a frustrating first two days for me really," the 31-year-old 2006 US Open champion said. "I wasn't playing that bad but I didn't hit any putts. I missed the green in horrible spots.
"So I went out this morning and saw we had pretty decent conditions, as easy as we're going to see on the course this week, easier than the first two days.
"I hit it close on the first and that always puts a nice taste in your mouth. I tapped it in for birdie and went on from there."
Ogilvy's remarkable 63 was five shots better than the next best in a 77-strong field when the day's average score was 73.195.
Bettencourt, a PGA Tour rookie this season after topping the Nationwide Tour money list last year, played with great composure on his way to a four-under-par 68.
The 34-year-old birdied 15 and 17 to edge one stroke clear before faltering with a bogey at the par-four last, where he failed to reach the green in two after his tee shot ended up on the edge of a water hazard.
Wilson, who clinched his second PGA Tour victory at the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico in March, birdied two of the last four holes for a 69 to join Bettencourt at nine-under 207.
On a calm, sunny day at the event hosted by Jack Nicklaus, danger still lurked on the lightning-fast greens and seven players held at least a share of the lead during the round.
