GOLF/US tour: Tiger Woods was 13 shots off the lead going into the final round in the $4 million Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, but was happy enough to have rediscovered some of his rhythm and consistency.

The world number one fired a one-under-par 71 at a cool and breezy Pebble Beach Golf Links on Saturday to finish at two-under 214 after 54 holes, well behind pace-setting US Tour rookie Pat Perez.

"It's kind of a Catch-22, but I'm happy to be at two-under because I could be a lot worse," Woods said on his official website. "If he (Perez) plays the way he's been playing, then (he will) probably not (be caught in the final round).

"But I'm going to go out there to give it everything I've got and play hard and see what happens. I'd just like to play well for myself."

Woods believes the quality of golf on the current US Tour is so high that at least one player each week is capable of shooting low scores, regardless of the conditions. "The margin of error on the tour now is just not that much," he said. "The guys are just so much better that a shot here and there means a lot."

Woods has been battling flu all week at Pebble Beach but was pleased to be getting his swing a little closer to where he wants it to be.

"I felt fine out there (during the third round)," he said. "My golf swing wasn't exactly where I wanted it but I felt good enough to walk 18 holes and that's all that matters."

The 2000 National Pro-Am champion got off to a promising start on day three, picking up a birdie at the par-five second and then reeling off seven straight pars to reach the turn in one-under 35.

He dropped a shot at the par-four 11th after three-putting from 18 feet, but managed to save par with a good up-and-down at the short 12th.

A birdie on 16 moved Woods to two-under for the tournament and, following pars at 17 and at the last, he qualified for the fourth round after making his 80th consecutive PGA Tour cut by two shots.