Tiger Moves Into Lead at Congressional

There were ample opportunities to fall back.

Anthony Kim hits his second shot from the rough on the 16th hole during the first round of the AT&T National golf tournament at Congressional Country Club, Thursday, July 2, 2009, in Bethesda, Md.(AP Photo/Rob Carr)

(AP)

Unable to reach the 17th green from a thick lie in the rough, Woods holed a 6-foot par putt. He pushed his 3-wood into the right rough on the 18th and had to punch under some limbs and let the ball roll toward the green, but not too far because of water all around it. He putted from off the green 70 feet away and knocked in a 5-footer for par.

The birdie came from a fairway bunker, the ball spinning back to pin-high, 5 feet away. Then came a scary chip from the side of a mound, which he flopped with enough spin to tap in a 2-footer. And on the third hole, having short-sided himself again, Woods pitched perfectly to a green running away from him and saved another par with a 4-foot putt.

"That's how you keep yourself in a golf tournament," Woods said. "I made a couple of big putts — 17, 18, good up-and-down on 2 — and it kept me going. I played well early, and it's all about keeping your momentum."

Woods will play in the final pairing of the third round with Pampling, a familiar face from their many morning practice rounds at the majors. Pampling was in the first group off Friday morning, ran off three birdies through five holes, and didn't get unsettled by a lone bogey when he missed the fairway on the sixth hole, which plays as a par 4 at 516 yards.

"I just didn't do anything wrong and kept myself out of trouble," Pampling said.

He has two weeks left to try to qualify for the British Open, but would need at least a runner-up finish this week to have a chance. Otherwise, he is headed for the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.

Most eyes were behind Pampling, however, with the prospects of a Woods-Kim shootout at Congressional. Kim is regarded as the most promising young American to challenge Woods, and despite a swing that deserted him midway through the round, he's only two behind. "I hate the way I hit the ball today," Kim said. "My swing got loose and I couldn't find it out there. If I can stay focused and stay positive, I'll be in good shape."