Woods' slip-up came as no real surprise really as he had already missed birdie chances of seven, six and nine feet over the opening stretch of the third round.

Seeking a sixth consecutive strokeplay victory - and still favourite for the title with his phenomenal record as a front-runner - he was 14 under par, with European Order of Merit-chasing Howell and Cink 12 under.

Americans Jim Furyk and Brett Quigley were one further back along with Australian Adam Scott.

Padraig Harrington birdied the second and third to be joint second at that point, but Howell's Ryder Cup team-mate then three-putted the fifth and dropped another shot on the eighth after pulling his approach left of the green.

Howell could have been even closer. After a superb up and down from a greenside bunker on the first he was on in two at the par-five second, but three-putted it for par.

Meanwhile, the threat of bad weather led to organisers bringing forward the final round tee-off times tomorrow.

With thunderstorms forecast the leaders will now tee off almost three hours earlier than planned at 10.37am.

Play will start at 9am off the first and 10th tees.

Woods came back with a 10-foot putt on the ninth, but missed a six-foot chance for another birdie at the next.

Howell had birdied there for nearly 18 feet, but while he then bogeyed the 11th after pushing his approach Cink holed from 12 feet and it was the American who was alone in second at 13 under, two behind Woods.

Howell's error dropped him into a tie for third with Scott and also Swede Henrik Stenson.

Woods hit back yet again, hitting his 188-yard second to the 12th to six feet and making it to go to 16 under.

Cink had been bunkered and bogeyed there and Scott moved into second place at 13 under with birdies at the 14th and 16th.