Tiger Woods handled the hard wind and built his third-round lead to three strokes Sunday at the Deutsche Bank Open, his first tournament on the European PGA Tour.

Woods overcame some shaky putting with birdies on Nos. 16 and 18 to shoot 4-under-par 68. He is at 11-under 205 in an event featuring six of the world's top 10 golfers.

"We had to keep adjusting to the wind and trust it," Woods said. ``I did and I hit some good shots. Unfortunately, I didn't early in the round."

Englishmen Peter Baker and Brian Davis, who shared the lead with Woods midway through the round, were second at 208. Two-time U.S. Open champion Ernie Els of South Africa was at 209.

Woods, looking for his first title in four months, reportedly was paid $1 million in appearance money for the $2.1 million tournament.

"Some people just take the money and go sightseeing -- it's nice to see Tiger and Els have come to play," Scotland's Colin Montgomerie said.

Montgomerie, the PGA European tour's leading money-winner in recent years, was at 212 and 19-year-old Sergio Garcia was at 211.

Garcia, the 19-year-old Spanish sensation, had closed within two shots on the lead but fell six back by the end of the day.

He made his run with three straight birdies heading into the final hole. Then he sent a shot into the water and was left with a double bogey.

Nick Price had a 65 for the day's best round, leaving him at 212 at the demanding St. Leon Rot course. Nick Faldo was at 219 and Mark O'Meara at 220.

Woods began the day with a two-stroke lead, then eagled the par-5 first hole with a 40-foot putt. Baker and Davis moved even with the 1997 Masters champion midway through the afternoon, courtesy of a bogey by Woods on the sixth hole and some unsteady putting within 10 feet.

However, another birdie on the 12th restored Woods' one-stroke lead. Woods then moved ahead by three shots entering Monday's final round with his two late birdies, the one on No. 18 coming on a 30-foot putt.