Tiger Woods hoped to creep up the leaderboard after his 66 on Thursday at the Hero World Challenge.
On Friday, he shot up the leaderboard.
Woods started moving day at Albany Golf Club a full six shots behind overnight leader Patrick Reed. By day’s end, he put up a 67 to get to 11-under, just two back of Woodland and a shot in front of Reed, who was caught on camera improving his lie at the par five 11th.
Reed was hit with a two-shot penalty after his round and his 72 turned into 74 and dropped him down to 10-under.
Once again, a back-nine charge by Woods produced four birdies, including one at his nemesis hole — the par four 18th. “It wasn’t that hard today,” Woods explained of his closing birdie. “I hit three-wood, sand wedge and let the wind be my friend.” That sand wedge stopped six feet from the hole and Tiger canned it to post 11-under. “I’ve still got work to do. I’ll be one, maybe two behind.”
Tiger’s estimate was spot-on. He’ll start two behind Gary Woodland, whose birdie-birdie finish gave him a 68. That got him to 13-under, a shot in front of Henrik Stenson.
Stenson was 13-under standing on the 18th tee but his three-wood went right on him and he finished in a fairway bunker. His second caught the lip of the bunker and left him a 50-yard third. He nearly holed it but it rolled six feet past the hole and he’d miss the par putt. His 68 left him a shot back and earned him a spot alongside Woodland in Saturday’s final pairing.
Woods was tied at 11-under with playing partner Justin Thomas (67) and Jon Rahm (69).
Reed was alone at 10-under.
