It was moving day at the Valspar Championship, and Tiger Woods put himself in position to win.
Woods finished the third round with a 4-under-par 67, which left him tied for second place at 8-under and one shot behind leader Corey Connors. After carding birdies at No. 3 and No. 5, Woods moved into a tie for the lead with two more at No. 9 and No. 10.
Connors, a first-year player on the PGA Tour, surged back in front by as many as three strokes, but will have just the one-shot advantage over Woods, Justin Rose and Brandt Snedeker heading into the final round Sunday on the Copperhead course at Innisbrook Resort.
Woods needed a strong start Saturday, because the number of golfers with the top of the leaderboard in sight had already grown before the former No. 1 player in the world had reached the first tee. The course played easier than it did on the first two days, and Woods was one of 11 golfers who shot 4-under or better for the day.
Rose shot a 5-under 66 to vault into contention. There are 17 golfers within five shots of Connors, who has lead after each round, heading into Sunday.
Woods played one of his best rounds Friday since beginning this comeback after his fourth major surgery. He shot a 3-under 68 in the second round, at one point grabbing sole possession of the lead for the first time at a PGA Tour event since August 2015.
He has not won a tournament since the Bridgestone Invitational in August 2013. This is just Woods’ fifth tournament since returning from his most recent major surgery. Woods finished 12th two weeks ago at the Honda Classic.