 | LEADERBOARD -20 S Appleby (Aus) -18 V Singh (Fij) -15 R Goosen (SA) -14 D Clarke (NIre) -13 T Woods (US) |
Tiger Woods staged a mini-attack but was still seven shots off the lead of Stuart Appleby after round three of the Mercedes Championships in Hawaii. The world number one shot an eight-under 65 for 13-under overall.
Australia's Appleby reclaimed the lead with a 66 to reach 20-under-par, two ahead of Fiji's Vijay Singh, the second-round leader, who carded a 69.
South Africa's Retief Goosen (64) was third on 15 under, with Darren Clarke (69) on 14 under after an eagle at 17.
Defending champion Ernie Els carded a level-par to languish in 23rd.
Singh, who shot 64 on Friday, was philosophical in handing back the lead to Appleby.
|  I just need to get on a roll to have a chance |
"I didn't play badly at all," Singh said. "I just need to get that putter hot, like yesterday."
Woods, who missed last year's event with a knee injury, admitted that he was not yet firing on all cylinders after the Christmas break.
"I felt more rusty than I thought I would, considering I've only had three weeks off," he said
"I just need to get on a roll to have a chance, need to shoot a front nine like Goosen did today.
"If I do that, I have a viable chance duplicating that on the back nine and at least posting a number."
Eight of the world's top 10 are playing in the elite 30-man field - restricted to 2003 US Tour winners - at the Plantation Course on Maui.
MMIX
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