Game On Dudes: Tiger Moves Into Doral Contention

Belatedly catching up on WGC Cadillac third round replay after getting to witness Big Cap history Saturday at the Great Race Place, but it seems I didn't miss much from Doral.

And after Friday's antics, that's just fine!

Everyone's just setting us up for what should be the fascinating Sunday of 2014. All eyes are on Tiger who could go from a pretty weak start to the year to winning at an all-new Doral without having played a practice round. He trails Patrick Reed by three.

And while the 66 was stellar, Rex Hoggard says it's the second round 73 that looks better and better.

When Woods walked off the course he was one stroke off the lead thanks to a Saturday surge and will begin Round 4 three strokes behind Patrick Reed in his quest to win his second consecutive WGC-Cadillac Championship.

Strangely, if Woods goes on to win his fifth PGA Tour title at Doral – two World Golf Championships and two Ford Championships – it may be Friday’s 73, a round that included three water balls, and not his Saturday rally that lifts him to the winner’s circle.

Another dynamic related to Woods and the fun mix of names populating the WGC Cadillac Championship: intimidation. Or lack of. Bob Harig writes:

Also an obstacle is the type of player he competes against today. Hunter Mahan, who is 2 strokes back of Reed and paired with Woods on Sunday, has played with the No. 1-ranked golfer numerous times and said his presence doesn't add any angst.

"You're not going to change anything," Mahan said. "You can't really do anything different. You've just got to keep playing golf. There's plenty of other guys to worry about."

That is a departure from years gone by, when competitors clearly feared Woods and often altered their games, playing right into his hands.

Reed has little experience in this position, never having played in a major championship and competing in just his second World Golf Championship event. But since Woods won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in August, Reed has won twice on the PGA Tour, including the Humana Challenge in January.

"Whenever he's close to the lead, he's a guy you have to watch out for," said Reed, who is ranked 44th in the world and listed Woods in his player bio as part of his dream foursome. "But at the same time, I have to go and just play my own game. I was playing with Dustin Johnson today and I could have gotten into a situation where I started to play 'who could hit the ball the farthest,' and I would have lost that battle every time.

The highlights: