THOUSAND OAKS, December 4, 2011 (AFP) - Zach Johnson holed out from the fairway for an eagle at the final hole Saturday to seize the lead from Tiger Woods after three rounds of the Chevron World Challenge.
Former world number one Woods, chasing a first title in more than two years, started the day with a three-shot lead, but had his troubles at wind-whipped Sherwood Country Club in the $5 million tournament he hosts for the benefit of his charitable foundation.
Three of his five bogeys came on par-five holes as Woods posted a one-over par 73 that left him on seven-under 209 - one shot behind 2007 Masters champion Johnson's total of 208.
Johnson, who claimed the last of his seven US PGA Tour victories at Colonial in 2010, seized the lead with a flourish at the final hole, where his seven-iron from 163 yards out hit the green and hopped into the cup for an eagle and a four-under 68.
"I hit a good shot," said Johnson, who erased the sour taste of back-to-back bogeys at 16 and 17. "When it left my club I thought it was pretty good. The wind was coming in out of the right, the wind grabbed it and took it left obviously toward the hole."
For the most part, however, the wind didn't do anyone in the 18-man field any favors.
"It was tough out there," Woods said. "The wind was very gusty and swirling all over the place. It was really tough to pull a club and hit a shot. A good shot today sometimes wasn't rewarded."
That made Johnson's opening 10 pars look all the more impressive.
"Today wasn't easy," said Johnson, who eagled the par-five 11th then birdied 12 and 13. "It's windy. I got off to a pretty shaky start, but made some nice saves and then had a lot of opportunities. Then I got going."
South Korea's K.J. Choi carded an even par 72 for sole possession of third place on five-under 211 heading into the final round.
Choi, who led after Thursday's first round, rallied after starting with a bogey and double-bogey.
"Just three shots back, so still right there," he said.
Even though he surrendered the lead, Woods said he was happy with his game.
"Most of the time today it wasn't me," Woods said. "I hit a lot of good shots today."
Woods opened with a birdie, but promptly bogeyed the second, one of the two par-fives he eagled on Friday.
Woods said wind was a factor in his bogey at the par-four sixth, his second in two days.
"I hit a bad putt yesterday, but today was strictly wind," he said. "It was supposed to be down off the left, but you end up playing in off the right. It's just swirling down there."
He said the wind tricked him again at the par-five 13th and the par-five 16th, where he was in the fairway but saw a wayward gust take his second shot into a hazard. With his ball nestled in the rocky shallows Woods considered trying to play out, but eventually opted to take the penalty en route to his last bogey of the day.
As Woods was taking his bogey at 16 to fall back to seven-under, Johnson was finishing his round.
"I didn't know I was taking the lead," Johnson said. "I had no idea where I stood. I assumed I was near the lead. I assumed Tiger was going to maybe make another birdie."
Four birdies kept Woods in good position heading into the final round. He chipped in for birdie at the fourth, then nabbed back-to-back birdies at 10 and 11.
"Even though I made three bogeys on par-fives, I had two three-putts, but I played well," Woods said. "I hit a lot of good shots that ended up in bad spots because I had bad gusts.
"So be it. I'm right there with a chance going into tomorrow."
Third-round scores here on Saturday in the $5 million Chevron World Challenge golf tournament (USA unless noted, par-72):
208 - Zach Johnson 73-67-68
209 - Tiger Woods 69-67-73
211 - K.J. Choi (KOR) 66-73-72
213 - Gary Woodland 73-70-70, Hunter Mahan 72-68-73, Matt Kuchar 72-67-74
214 - Paul Casey (ENG) 79-68-67
215 - Bubba Watson 75-70-70
216 - Bill Haas 78-69-69, Rickie Fowler 71-70-75
217 - Martin Laird (SCO) 77-74-66, Bo Van Pelt 74-72-71
218 - Steve Stricker 69-76-73, Jim Furyk 71-74-73
219 - Jason Day (AUS) 74-68-77
220 - Webb Simpson 73-79-68
222 - Nick Watney 71-78-73
225 - Keegan Bradley 76-75-74