Golf - Woods Moves Into Buick Contention

Tiger Woods shot into contention at the Buick Invitational with a solid third round to move to within two strokes of the lead.

Woods, who is chasing a seventh consecutive victory on the PGA Tour, was seven shots off the lead at the start of play.

But he fired a three-under-par round of 69 in the third round at Torrey Pines.

PGA Tour rookie Brandt Snedeker, the halfway leader, shares the lead with Australia's Andrew Buckle on 11 under.

Snedeker missed a six-foot birdie putt at the last and had to settle for a 74 while Buckle managed a round of 68.

American Kevin Sutherland carded a 70 to lie third at 10 under, one stroke ahead of Woods and fellow Americans Troy Matteson, Charles Howell III and Bill Haas.

"I feel like things have progressed and got better each day," said Woods after his round which included three birdies. "I've put myself right there in contention with a chance on Sunday. Hopefully I can stay out of the bunkers and make a few putts. I'm very pleased with the way I hit it but this golf course is not playing easy. The fairways are fast and these greens are firming up a little bit."

Snedeker, despite struggling for accuracy off the tee, held on to a share of the lead with a mix of seven bogeys and five birdies.

His best moment came at the par-four fifth where he holed out from a greenside bunker for his second birdie of the day.

Tour rookie Buckle, winner of the world junior title for 15-17 year olds at the course in 1999 and 2000, joined Snedeker at 11 under with a 14-foot birdie putt at the last.