Tiger Woods, Not on Par With His Ranking

AKRON, Ohio, Aug. 7, 2010 — -- It's safe to say nothing was as Tiger Woods intended. Tiger tanked for a second day at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, and giving him his worst score through 54 holes since he turned pro.

The audible comments from announcers ranged from "He didn't even touch the hole" to "That's just not breaking how he intended."

When he finished his third round today, Woods was tied for 78th out of the 80 golfers at the tournament, an event that he has dominated. But the No. 1 golfer in the world has slipped.

If Phil Mickelson can finish fourth or better and Woods does not pull off a miracle Sunday to climb higher than a 45th-place finish, the No. 1 ranking will change hands for the first time since 2005.

Woods took a leave from golf after a sex scandal in which dozens of women came forward to claim they'd had affairs with him. Woods issued a public apology in February.

Since his return to the game, Tiger has lost his bite. The man who once seemed a sure thing to break Jack Nicklaus' record for victories at the sport's four major tournaments, failed to finish higher than fourth at any of the year's first three majors.

In his other five PGA tournaments this year he withdrew from one, missed the cut at another and finished no higher than 19th at the others.

After shooting his worst score ever at Firestone Country Club today, Woods is in position to post his worst finish over 72 holes since his first tournament as a pro.

Woods struggled to a 5-over-par 75 today during the third round of the Bridgestone Invitational, epitomized by a semi-shank on the final hole that led to a bogey.

The world's No. 1 golfer -- perhaps only for another day -- dropped his club in disgust and had to scramble for the bogey that still gave him his highest score in 47 professional rounds at Firestone.

For the second straight day, Woods, 34, declined to talk to reporters, telling a PGA Tour media official that those waiting for comment should "talk to the leaders." He did offer a few comments to the media official as he walked to the clubhouse.

"Well, I drove it terrible, hit my irons terrible, didn't putt well and it added up to a lot," Woods said.

Asked if there was anything positive heading into next week's PGA Championship, Woods said: "No, not right now.''