Woods, Dimming Season-Opening Championship

It still looks difficult for `slow starter` Tiger Woods to win the season-opening game this year.

The 3rd round of U.S. PGA tour season-opening Mercedes Championship (4 million dollars award) at Plantation Course (par73) in Kapalua, Hawaii on 6th.

Woods, who carded 1-over 74 the previous day with a putting problem, ended up with 1-over-par 74 in the 3rd round, slipping back to 16th (3-under 216) among 32 entries.

Woods made his drive shot on fair way by 100 percent till the 2nd round, but he rarely got the opportunity for a birdie with his fair way ratio falling to 50 percent.

At the first hole (par 4), where he made a triple bogey the previous day, he started with a double bogey, sending his iron shot into the bush. And he fell off the pace, repeating bogeys at 2nd (par 3) and 6th hole (par 4)

Woods won the season-opening title twice in 98 and 99, but couldn`t win last year. Considering the sensitivity of his shot, it looks difficult to follow up 10 shots left to the co-leaders (13-under 206) Scott Verplank and Kenny Perry (U.S.).

Meanwhile, first-round winner (10-under) Mike Weir (Canada) fell back to 8th (8-under-par 211) with Woods firing 1-over 74 two days in a row.

Sergio Garcia (Spain) jumped to co-6th (9-under-par 210) with David Duval (U.S.) recording daily best (5-under-par 68) at 3rd round, which is a steppingstone for a come-from-behind victory.

Young-Sik Ahn ysahn@donga.com