Tiger Woods struggles in wind, trails by one

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Sherwood Country Club is cut into the rocky foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, fairways running up hillsides and down canyons, where Saturday afternoon, the wind gusted and swirled and tossed Tiger Woods for a loop.

Woods' three-shot lead entering the third round of the $5-million Chevron World Challenge was blown away, and he fell to second, a shot behind Zach Johnson.

Johnson vaulted into first in this annual event that benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation by holing out a 153-yard 7-iron for an eagle 2 on the 444-yard 18th. That gave him a 4-under-par 68 and a 54-hole total of 8-under 208. Woods, who shot 73, was at 209.

"Most of the time today,'' Woods said, "it wasn't me. I hit a lot of good shots. The wind was all over the place. It was tough out there.''

Since the 2009 Thanksgiving night car accident and the subsequent revelations of infidelities, along with knee injuries and a swing coach change, Woods hasn't had a victory in his last 26 events.

But he entered this year's Chevron very optimistic. A 69 and 67 in the first two rounds didn't alter his thinking.

"To put it simply,'' said K.J. Choi, paired with Woods in the second round, "he played like an artist.''

Johnson, who will be playing with Woods in the final twosome Sunday, pointed out, "He's certainly the best player out here. His mechanics look good . . . Typically, when he's out in front, he's tough to beat.''

Typically, Woods takes advantage of the par 5s, and there are five at Sherwood. But Saturday, Woods had three bogeys, a birdie and a par on the holes.

"I couldn't gauge the wind,'' Woods said. "It was coming up, dying down, swirling.''

The weather bureau said the wind was 30 to 40 miles per hour. "It wasn't easy,'' Johnson said. Easy or not, Johnson parred his first 10 holes, then eagled the par-5 11th. He trailed Woods by one until an eagle on the 18th.

Woods made five bogeys and four birdies. A year ago at the Chevron, he let slip a four-shot lead going into the final round and lost in a playoff to Graeme McDowell, and this time he was asked if he might find satisfaction in progress without a win.

"I like W's,'' Woods said. "That's why I play the game, for that very reason. That's not going to change.''