Reed has WGC lead but Woods lurking

Associated Press

DORAL, FLA.

In only his second year on the PGA Tour, Patrick Reed already is used to playing in the final group — and winning.

But not against a field of stars at a World Golf Championship.

And not looking at a familiar figure in a red shirt playing in the group ahead of him.

Reed turned his game around in four holes Saturday at the Cadillac Championship and wound up with a 3-under 69 in much tamer conditions at Doral. It gave him a two-shot lead going into a final round that will prominently feature defending champion Tiger Woods for the first time this year.

Woods, who only a day earlier looked to be on the verge of shooting himself out of the tournament, delivered the low round of the week and his best round of a short season. He made eight birdies for a 66 and was only three shots behind.

“That’s fine. I’ve seen Tiger a lot on the driving range. Never had the opportunity to play with him and I still haven’t been able to play with him,” Reed said. “Whenever he’s close to the lead, he’s a guy you have to watch out for.

“But at the same time, I have to go and just play my own game.”

He did that beautifully on a sunny afternoon with not nearly as much wind on the new Blue Monster.

Reed rolled in a 40-foot eagle putt on No. 8, and started the back nine with consecutive birdies. He drove the green on the par-4 16th for a two-putt birdie that gave him the outright lead and finished with a two-shot lead over PGA champion Jason Dufner (68) and Hunter Mahan, who bogeyed his last hole for a 71.

Reed was at 4-under 212, the highest 54-hole score to lead at Doral since a three-way tie at 212 in 1985.

The 23-year-old Texan will be going for his third win in his last 14 tournaments, dating to the Wyndham Championship in August.