Normalcy Returns: Woods Leads Pack

The flags were raised to their regular height, the gallery was more enthusiastic and players whose spirits were lifted by the memorial service for Payne Stewart managed to share a few laughs.

So it was only fitting that on a day when some normalcy returned in the PGA Tour Championship, Tiger Woods was once again on top of the leaderboard.

Woods wasted little time moving into the lead at Champions Golf Club in Houston on Saturday by making eight birdies in erratic weather conditions and taking a three-shot lead going into the final round. He has won the last 10 times he has held or shared the third-round lead.

“I came to an understanding, a resolve,” Woods said of Friday’s memorial service in Orlando, Fla. “And by doing that, today’s round was a little easier emotionally than it was on Thursday. Seeing Tracey [Stewart] speak from the heart . . . that’s incredible.

“If she can have that kind of strength, then we should be able to do that easily.”

Woods showed no effects from a stinger he suffered hitting a rock Thursday, finishing off a round of 66 in rainstorms and adding a four-under-par 67 in the cool, blustery afternoon to finish 54 holes at 13-under 200. That puts him in position to win his third consecutive tournament and seventh in his last 10 starts.

“How much better can I get? Only time will tell, and only more hard work will show,” Woods said. “Hopefully, I will continue to get better.”

Chris Perry made four birdies to complete a 64, and had a 69 in the afternoon to finish at 203. Brent Geiberger was another stroke back after a 68.

Because the PGA Tour canceled play Friday so players could attend the memorial service for Stewart, 27 holes were played on Thursday and Saturday, setting up a regular 18-hole final today.

Remembrances of Stewart, one of six people killed in a plane crash Monday, were still evident. Several players wore bracelets that said “WWJD”--What Would Jesus Do--which were handed out during the memorial service Friday.

Stewart wore the bracelet when he won the U.S. Open in June.

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Captain Lorie Kane and Janice Moodie forged a nine-under 63 as the LPGA took the lead over the Japanese team in the Nichirei International women’s tournament at Narita, Japan. The LPGA needs only three victories and a tie in 12 singles matches today to win the championship. The LPGA, which led, 4-2, after the opening round Friday, had a 9-3 advantage after four-ball stroke play Saturday. The winning team will get $450,000.

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Chris DiMarco and Brian Henninger set the pace early and shared the lead after two rounds of the PGA Southern Farm Bureau Classic at Madison, Miss. Henninger had a six-under 66, DiMarco 68. Both were at 11-under 133 and held a three-stroke lead over Russ Cochran and Perry Moss.