SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. Rocco Mediate wasn't in awe of Tiger Woods, and he proved it today.

Playing in a group with golf's biggest attraction, Mediate shot a 5-under-par 66 to increase a two-stroke lead to six shots in the Phoenix Open. His third straight sub-70 round gave him a 54-hole score of 11-under 202.

"I know what I've got to do,'' said Mediate, who collected his two victories in 13 years on tour by winning playoffs. "I've got to drive onto the first fairway tomorrow. That's my whole plan right now. Once that happens, I'll keep going.''

Woods, who has won seven titles in a little more than two full seasons, had to birdie the last hole to finish with a 70 and a second-place 208.

"I made my share of mistakes,'' Woods said. "I made three bogeys today, which is kind of uncalled for. If you need to make a move, you can't afford to be making bogeys.''

He was one shot ahead of 1993 winner Lee Janzen, Harrison Frazar, and first-round leader Justin Leonard.

Leonard, who shot a 67, had to make up part of the second round earlier today and had a midpoint score of even-par 142, the average cut score in 12 previous years on the TPC of Scottsdale layout.

But the fairways were narrowed during the offseason, the rough was allowed to grow to five inches, and tricky pin placements seemed to baffle everyone but Mediate.

Unusually cool weather frosted the greens and delayed the start of play all three rounds, forcing some players to return at sunrise the next day to complete the first and second rounds.

The field of 71 for the final two rounds wasn't determined until near midday today, and it included nine players at 147, the highest cut in tournament history.

David Duval, who won both of his previous tournaments this month, including last week's Bob Hope Chrysler Classic where he closed with a record-tying 59, got to keep playing at 145 and then capitalised on it by shooting a bogey-free 66 in the third round to finish 54 holes at 2-under 211. Duval, who is tied for 10th place, made five birdies in his last 10 holes after opening the third round with eight straight pars. His birdies came Nos. 9, 10, 13, 14, and 18.

But 1997 Phoenix champion Steve Jones, who shot a 26-under 258 here two years ago to tie the second-lowest, 72-hole score in PGA Tour history, missed the cut after rounds of 71-77, and Vijay Singh, the 1995 winner, withdrew after 35 holes because he was 7-over.

In Woods's only other appearance in Phoenix, he tied for 18th in 1997. He said the 7,083-yard layout was much more unforgiving.

"You probably won't see a course like this until maybe Augusta,'' Woods said.

His problems finding a groove didn't affect his popularity. At the par-3 16th hole, which Woods aced during the third round two years ago, the background noise resembled a pro wrestling match when he, Mediate and Hal Sutton arrived in the tee box.

But catcalls from an elevated grandstand between two beer tents didn't faze Mediate, who saved par with a 5-foot putt after missing the green off the tee.

"Playing with Tiger is a lot of fun, and him and I talk a lot,'' Mediate said. "But he's not the culprit, I guess you would have to say. The people are fine. I heard a couple of stupid comments today towards me, but I don't care. I can't stop them.''

Mediate, who overcame two bogeys with seven birdies, gained crucial ground on the next hole, the eighth of a round that began on the back nine.

Mediate had a two-shot lead at 7-under approaching the innocent-looking, 332-yard No. 17.

Woods, looking to drive the green, hooked his tee shot into water, took a drop and then two-putted for a bogey-5 from about 25 feet after failing to get a chip shot over an undulation between the lower green and the flag.

Mediate took advantage of the bogey by rolling in a 30-foot birdie putt over the same undulation, dropping to 8-under and opening a four-shot lead.

He made four more birdies after the turn, and Woods never got any closer.