Woods Trails by Four Shots but Knows He’s No Longshot

TA SHEE, Taiwan — Tiger Woods will need another remarkable comeback to defend his title today in the $1.3-million Johnnie Walker Classic.

Heading into the final round, he trails Michael Campbell of New Zealand by four strokes.

However, that’s not as daunting a deficit as he faced in last year’s tournament in Thailand, where he trailed by eight shots entering the final 18 holes.

“Right now there is a big difference between eight back and four back,” Woods said after shooting a third-round, two-under 70 Saturday at the Ta Shee Golf and Country Club. “There are a lot fewer guys between myself and the lead.”

After 54 holes, Woods was in a three-way tie for third at six-under 210. Campbell was at 10-under 206 after a 69 on a day when strong winds played havoc with many shots.

“I’d like to be 10 strokes [ahead of Woods] instead of four,” Campbell said.

Woods’ round included a tough shot from the rough on the 16th hole that required him to swing his club into a tree. Worried he might break the shaft of his eight-iron, he let go of the club just after impact, bending it and sending it flying backward toward the gallery.

Australian Geoff Ogilvy shot a 68 and was second at 209.

Sharing third with Woods were Argentina’s Angel Cabrera (69) and second-round co-leader Ernie Els (73), the runner-up last year whose round included a double bogey at 16.