GRAND BLANC (Michigan), Aug 11: Tiger Woods’ bid to run away from the field in the Buick Open failed on Saturday, but the world’s number one player still managed to take a one-shot lead into the final round.

Woods shot a one-under-par 71 in the third round to end the day at 15-under, one stroke ahead of Mexico’s Esteban Toledo, who shot a five-under 67.

Playing in his first tournament since the British Open, Woods had begun the third round four shots clear of the field.

Fred Funk, also with a 67, jumped into a tie for third place with Bob Tway, who shot a 68 to leave both players on 12-under.

The very first hole was a precursor of the day for Woods, who hit his approach out of bounds to the left and made a double-bogey seven.

After making birdie at the second hole, Woods eventually returned to even par on his round with another birdie at seventh.

A bogey on the ninth left him one-over for the front nine.

Leading third round scores (US unless stated):

201 — Tiger Woods 67, 63, 71.

202 — Esteban Toledo (Mexico) 68, 67, 67.

204 — Fred Funk 71, 66, 67; Bob Tway 71, 65, 68.

205 — Kent Jones 65, 70, 70.

206 — Steve Flesch 72, 68, 66; Tom Byrum 70, 68, 68; David Toms 68, 68, 70; Jim Furyk 69, 67, 70.

207 — Brian Gay 69, 71, 67; Russ Cochran 71, 68, 68; Mark O’Meara 68, 69, 71; Blaine McCallister 68, 68, 71; Tommy Tolles 72, 64, 71; Luke Donald (Britain) 67, 69, 71.

208 — Kenny Perry 73, 69, 66; Brian Henninger 71, 70, 67; K.J. Choi (South Korea) 66, 74, 68; Phil Mickelson 69, 70, 69; Paul Azinger 69, 70, 69; Jeff Sluman 70, 67, 71; John Senden (Australia) 68, 69, 71; Robert Damron 67, 69, 72; Carlos Franco (Paraguay) 68, 67, 73; Pat Bates 68, 67, 73.

Other international players:

209 — Stuart Appleby (Australia) 71, 68, 70; Retief Goosen (South Africa) 70, 67, 72; Rod Pampling (Australia) 69, 66, 74.

210 — Richie Coughlan (Ireland) 71, 68, 71; David Morland IV (Canada) 70, 69, 71.

211 — Glen Hnatiuk (Canada) 74, 68, 69; Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 72, 70, 69; Steve Allan (Australia) 72, 68, 71; Jose Coceres (Argentina) 73, 66, 72; Brian Watts (Canada) 71, 68, 72.

212 — Stephen Ames (Canada) 70, 71, 71; Vijay Singh (Fiji) 70, 68, 74.

213 — Craig Perks (New Zealand) 70, 72, 71; Mike Weir (Canada) 72, 67, 74.

218 — Phil Tataurangi (New Zealand) 71, 71, 76.

220 — Brenden Pappas (South Africa) 72, 69, 79.—Reuters