Tiger Woods (L) waits alongside caddie Joe LaCava (R) on the tenth green during the third round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach Golf Links on February 11, 2012 in Pebble Beach, California.
(February 10, 2012 – Photo by Harry How/Getty Images North America)

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Charlie Wi played bogey-free at Spyglass Hill for a 3-under 69 to build a three-shot lead Saturday in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Now it’s time for him to face his demons of self-doubt — along with a familiar force in golf.

Tiger Woods took another step toward showing his game is nearly back. He ran off five birdies in a six-hole stretch early in his round at Pebble Beach and had a 5-under 67 that put him four shots behind going into the final round, the closest he has been to the 54-hole lead in a regular PGA Tour event since the 2010 Masters.

With a new swing, it’s starting to look like the old Tiger.

Wi, winless in 162 previous PGA Tour events, was at 15-under 199. He has a 54-hole lead for only the second time on tour. He had a one-shot lead at Colonial last year and was runner-up to David Toms.

This time, Wi will be in the last group with someone in a familiar spot. Ken Duke, who is winless in 142 starts on the PGA Tour, shot a 65 at Monterey Peninsula.

Along with Woods in the hunt, Phil Mickelson managed to stay in contention despite playing the par 5s at Pebble Beach in 1-over par. He saved par on the 18th for a 70. That put him in a tie for fourth, six shots behind, and set up a date with Woods in the second-to-last pairing.

Jessica Korda of the United States plays a shot during day four of the 2012 Women’s Australian Open at Royal Melbourne Golf Course on February 12, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia.
(February 11, 2012 – Photo by Lucas Dawson/Getty Images AsiaPac)

WOMEN’S AUSTRALIAN OPEN

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — American teenager Jessica Korda moved into position for a two-sport, father-daughter Australian double, shooting an even-par 73 in windy conditions to take the Women’s Australian Open lead at Royal Melbourne.

Korda, the 18-year-old daughter of 1998 Australian Open tennis champion Petr Korda, had a 4-under 215 total in the LPGA Tour opener on the historic club’s difficult Composite Course, the 2011 Presidents Cup venue that is hosting a women’s professional event for the first time. She opened with rounds of 72 and 70.

So Yeon Ryu, the U.S. Women’s Open champion who took a one-stroke lead into the third round, was a stroke back along with fellow South Korean player Hee Kyung Seo and Australia’s Nikki Campbell. Ryu shot a 76, Seo had a 75, and Campbell a 70. Top-ranked Yani Tseng, the winner the last two years at Commonwealth Golf Club, topped the group at 2 under after a 71. The Taiwanese star was still smarting from a three-hole stretch Friday in her second-round 76 when she dropped six strokes with a quadruple-bogey 8 and two bogeys. Canada’s Lorie Kane and American Katie Futcher also were 2 under. The 47-year-old Kane had a 72, and Futcher shot a 71.

Lee Westwood of England during the final round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club on February 12, 2012 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
(February 11, 2012 – Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images Europe)

DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Lee Westwood took advantage of some shaky play from Rory McIlroy and Thomas Bjorn, shooting a 5-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead in the Dubai Desert Classic.

Westwood, the third-ranked English star, had a 15-under 201 total.

Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello was second along with Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher and Germany’s Marcel Siem. Cabrera-Bello had a 70, and Gallacher and Siem shot 68.

McIlroy was two strokes back after a 72. Martin Kaymer (70), Scott Jamieson (70) and Joel Sjoholm (66) also weree 13 under. Bjorn was 12 under after a 73.

Corey Pavin hits a shot prior to the third round of the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club on January 14, 2012 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
(January 13, 2012 – Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images North America)

ALLIANZ CHAMPIONSHIP

BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Corey Pavin and Peter Senior — both winless on the Champions Tour — shared the lead after the second round of the Allianz Championship at Broken Sound Golf Club.

Pavin followed his opening 8-under 64 with a 70 to match Senior at 10 under. Senior had a 68.

Mark Calcavecchia and Bernhard Langer were a stroke back. Calcavecchia had a 68, and Langer a 69.

Pavin had a two-shot lead with two holes left, but bogeyed the 17th — his lone bogey of the day — and Senior birdied the 18th. Pavin is making his 35th career Champions Tour start, Senior his 48th.

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