Tiger maintains lead as pack closes

As the Black Course became playable, Tiger Woods looked beatable, then impenetrable.

All but given the second leg of the Grand Slam, Woods ran into trouble Saturday at the U.S. Open before regaining control in an uncanny three-hole stretch at Bethpage State Park.

With his closest pursuer fading under ideal scoring conditions, Woods allowed stars Sergio Garcia and Phil Mickelson back into the tournament by playing his first 14 holes in 2-over.

But golf's incomparable star rallied with a pair of late birdies to highlight an even-par 70 and increase the three-stroke lead he had entering the round by a shot.

"I saw the guys were making a run at it, at me," said Woods, who began the day three shots better than playing partner Padraig Harrington of Ireland. "And I just tried to keep hanging in there."

Shortly after Garcia and Mickelson got within a stroke, Woods made a 15-foot birdie putt -- his first of the day -- at the 15th hole. He added a six-footer at the 17th to regain some momentum.

"I didn't feel comfortable, but I knew that even though those guys were making a run and I was holding par for the day, I kept reminding myself I had the lead," he said.

Woods parred the 18th to reach 5-under 205, four strokes better than Garcia and five ahead of Mickelson, two of the world's best players still seeking their first major crowns.

Just 26, Woods is a day closer to his eighth -- and second straight to start the season. He has won five of the last eight major tournaments and 31 events overall on the PGA Tour.

"I'll just go out there and play my own game," Woods said. "And I'll enjoy competing in the final round of a major championship. It's going to be a lot of fun."

Garcia, the fifth-ranked player in the world who has been heckled by the unrelenting New York crowd all week, started the round seven shots back but birdied two of his last five holes en route to a 67.

"Still a lot of holes to go, a lot of shots to hit," said Garcia, whose first three PGA Tour wins have come over the past 13 months. "So it's not going to be easy, but it's not over yet."

Ranked second to Woods, Mickelson electrified galleries with three birdies over his final six holes to help halve a 10-shot deficit. A bogey at the 18th left him with a 67.

"I knew that I needed to get it turned around, but the last thing on my mind was trying to get in contention to win this tournament," said Mickelson, who turns 32 on Sunday.

Many of the golfers took aim at a course softened by Friday's persistent rain as 13 broke par, compared to just four in the third round.

The longest layout in Open history at 7,214 yards, the par-70 Black Course played to an average of 72.067 strokes Saturday, nearly 4.5 below Friday's mark.

"You can fire at the flags if you have a mid-iron or down," said Aussie Robert Allenby, who is tied for fifth at 1-over 211 after carding a 67. "You can fire on them and stop it really close, and I think that was the difference today."

It seemed like everyone was attacking the pins except Woods, who hit errant drives, misjudged iron shots and missed putts early and often.

Woods failed to hit a fairway until the fifth hole, where the first of his two bogeys came. When he finally was able to find the narrow landing areas, he failed to capitalize on birdie chances.

After missing a 10-foot par putt at the fifth, Woods was off on putts of 15, six and 18 feet during a four-hole stretch to close the front nine.

Woods did save par at the 210-yard par-3 to stay afloat, nailing an eight-foot putt. He made a four-footer for par at the 492-yard, par-4 10th before dropping another stroke.

After a solid drive to the middle of the fairway at the 435-yard 11th, Woods had his approach roll off the green to the fringe. He then chipped five feet past and missed the putt.

While the rest of the leaderboard continued to make strides, Woods battled through the next three holes, three-putting for par at the par-5 13th around missed birdie chances at Nos. 12 and 14.

"But I hung in there," he said. "And I was proud of myself I hung in there the entire round, not playing as well as the first two days, but I hung in there."

By the time Woods walked off the 14th green, Garcia and Mickelson had made their moves.

Garcia spun his tee shot at the 161-yard 14th within a foot of the cup and tapped in for birdie. He saved par from six feet at the 15th before draining a 20-footer for birdie at the 16th to get within two strokes.

"It was quite a thrill to get back in the tournament," the 22-year-old Spaniard said. "And for a moment, it looked like it was going to be quite close. But then Tiger made two great birdies coming in and got a little cushion there."

After exchanging obscene gestures with a fan and taking out his frustrations by making negative comments about Woods on Friday, Garcia will be in the final pairing with the world's best player Sunday.

"I left a note this morning in his locker, just telling him that I didn't mean anything bad about him, but we'll see," Garcia said. "I don't think he's a guy that likes to talk too much on a Sunday playing for a major, anyways."

After rallying with a brilliant 11-hole stretch Saturday, Mickelson will play in the penultimate group with Jeff Maggert, who is tied for third.

Mickelson bogeyed three of his first five holes to fall 10 strokes back but birdied three straight to close the front nine. He then birdied Nos. 13, 15 and 17 to get within two shots of Woods.

"There's a chance where you can make up a lot of ground there with birdies and bogeys," he said. "The leaders may lose ground as you make up ground."

Before his 20-foot putt at the 17th, Mickelson was greeted by a raucous applause as he walked up the fairway. He may need similar support Sunday if he is to win that elusive major.

"It was a really cool feeling," he said. "It's been a fun week."