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Page last updated at 07:41 GMT, Sunday, 3 May 2009 08:41 UK

Johnson leads after Woods falters

ROUND THREE (US unless stated):
-11 Z Johnson -9 L Glover, T Woods, L Glover -8 B de Jonge (Zim), S O'Hair, B Watson, R Goosen (SA)
Selected others: -7 R Fisher (Eng) -6 M Kaymer (Germany -5 I Poulter (Eng)


Zach Johnson
Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion, lines up a putt during the third round

Tiger Woods bogeyed the final two holes to hand Zach Johnson a two-shot lead after the third round of the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte.

Former Masters champion Johnson carded a 68 to reach 11-under-par but had to wait for over an hour to finish his round because of lightning in the area.

Woods three-putted the short 17th and then missed a six-footer for par at the last and had to settle for a 70.

England's Ross Fisher is only four off the pace after shooting a 69.

Woods was ideally placed at the start of the day, just one stroke behind joint leaders Bubba Watson and Retief Goosen.

His front-nine performance was a mixed bag with three birdies and two dropped shots, but further birdies at 10, 12 and 15 carried him into a share of the lead.

But the world number one pushed his tee-shot at the penultimate hole and could not get down in two from 60 feet and the bogey at the last left him sharing second place on nine-under with Lucas Glover (68) and George McNeill (70).

"I hit the ball better today but to bogey the last two holes with two seven-irons is not the way you want to finish," said Woods.

Tiger Woods
Woods splashes out of a bunker at the 8th hole

"But I have a shot going into tomorrow. I hit some good shots on the back nine which was nice to feel."

Johnson, meanwhile, bounced back from two early bogeys to pick up four shots in three holes from the 7th, including an eagle three at the 8th.

He had three further birdies after the turn to boost his chances of his second win of the year, having captured the Sony Open title in Hawaii in January.

"I didn't get off to the start I necessarily wanted but I remained patient and I think that was the key for me today," the 33-year-old commented.

"I'm happy to be (leading) but at the same time I don't want to get overly complacent."



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