Sat Jan 26 18:54:38 2008

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Woods leads by eight shots at Buick

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La Jolla, CA (Sports Network) - Tiger Woods extended his lead to eight shots at the Buick Invitational with a six-under 66 on Saturday that made his fourth consecutive win at this event a near-inevitability.

Of course, it may have been that already.

Playing for the first time in 2008, Woods parlayed a flawless 65 on Friday into a four-shot lead over a player ranked 1,114th in the world.

Better-known golfers emerged Saturday to challenge Woods, who was at 18-under- par 198 overall, but the fact remains that the world's No. 1 player has proven nearly bulletproof in this situation.

Woods is 42-3 with a third-round lead on the PGA Tour, and 11-0 over the last three seasons. Two of his five Buick Invitational wins have come with the 54- hole lead.

"If it was over they'd be handing me a trophy today," said Woods, whose eight- shot lead was a tournament record after three rounds.

Stewart Cink's 40-foot eagle putt at the 18th hole was the only thing that kept Woods' lead below nine shots. Cink shot a three-under 69 and was alone in second place at 10-under 206.

Joe Durant had a 67 and stood at nine-under 207, with Justin Leonard (65) and Aaron Baddeley (71) among a group of four players tied at 209. Stuart Appleby (71) led a three-way tie at 210.

Kevin Streelman, the Q-school survivor and third-alternate who was second overnight to Woods, played in the final group with the leader on Saturday and shot a 75. He was in a 10-way tie for 11th place at five-under 211, a group that also included Phil Mickelson.

Mickelson posted a 30 on his first nine holes -- the back nine -- then made three bogeys and went one-over par on the front nine for a 68.

"My goal [on Sunday] is to shoot in the 60s, get a little momentum and get the year going," said Mickelson, who is also playing for the first time this season.

But a smooth round wasn't guaranteed for anyone Sunday, when rain and temperatures in the upper 50s were forecast for the entire day.

Woods will be shooting for PGA Tour win No. 62, the number Arnold Palmer had.

"Hopefully we'll get it in. If not, we'll just continue to plod along," said Woods, who has won 15 of his last 31 PGA Tour starts.

After a solid but unspectacular 10 holes -- two birdies, eight pars -- Woods was already six shots ahead when he stuck his tee shot to three feet at the 11th hole. Making birdie there, he moved seven ahead of Cink.

Woods hit into a greenside bunker at the 12th, then drained a 20-foot par putt to remain seven in front. At the 13th, he two-putted from 30 feet for a birdie.

Another birdie at the 15th and two routine pars left Woods with an eight-shot lead heading to the 18th. He drilled a two-iron from the fairway 239 yards to the left greenside rough, then chipped to tap-in range for a closing birdie.

For a player who has competed just once in the past four months -- at his Target World Challenge in December, an unofficial event -- Woods has looked remarkably fresh.

Especially on the greens, where his 82 putts this week have him tied for third place in the field. His iron play has been spectacular, too, as he ranks first in greens in regulation even though his driving has been somewhat erratic.

"It's one of those things where you just put a number in your head and go get it," Woods said.

Streelman, for one, was in awe of how Woods went about getting his number on Saturday. He called watching Woods "one of the coolest experiences of my life."

"It gives you an appreciation of putting and distance control with his irons, especially the long irons," said Streelman. "It's a sight to watch, and it's inspiring to me."