Sabbatini leads Woods by single shot
Rory Sabbatini took advantage of a late bogey by Tiger Woods to grab a one-shot lead after three rounds of the Bridgestone Invitational on Saturday.
Woods, who has won the World Golf Championships event five out of the seven times it has been held at Firestone, shot a one-under-par 69 and moved into position to add to his magnificent record.
Only a bogey at number 18 kept the world number one from a share of the lead with Sabbatini, who carded a 72 and is at 4-under 206.
Woods was the only player in the final 10 pairings to break par, and his round could have been even better if his drive at the last hole had not finished behind a clump of trees. He is at three-under 207.
"I played ultra conservatively, away from the majority of the flags," Woods said. "You can make doubles out there in a heartbeat."
Kenny Perry shot 71 and is in third place, three shots behind at 209.
Sabbatini started poorly with a double-bogey at the first hole, but he held on nicely on the punishing layout, playing the remainder of the round in even par.
Sabbatini will have plenty to prove in the final round, after his provocative comment in May that Woods was "more beatable than ever".
Woods claimed he was not offended by the remark.
"He's obviously trying to think of ways to motivate himself," Woods said.
