Tiger Woods opens five-shot lead in Thousand Oaks golf tournament | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Tiger Woodsstumbled early but quickly recovered and held a five-shot lead overGraeme McDowellafter nine holes Saturday in the third round of theChevron World Challengegolf tournament in Thousand Oaks.

EnglishmanPaul Casey, meanwhile, surged into contention with an eagle and four birdies on the front nine under overcast skies at the par-72 Sherwood Country Club.

But Casey also made a double bogey on the par-three eighth hole and fell six shots behind Woods at nine under par.

Woods,who led McDowell by four shots after the first two rounds,started Saturday with a bogey on the par-five second hole -- a hole he eagled a day earlier -- to drop to 12 under par for the tournament.

But Woods, seeking his first win of the year, then reeled off birdies on the fifth, sixth and seventh holes to go 15 under par.

McDowell made birdies on holes No. 2 and 3 but then bogeyed the par-four seventh hole to drop to 10 under par.

The 18-player tournament benefits Woods' charity, the Tiger Woods Foundation, and pays $1.2 million to the winner. Woods has won the event four times.

-- Jim Peltz

Photo: Paul Casey of England tees off on the second hole during the third round of the Chevron World Challenge in Thousand Oaks. Credit: Danny Moloshok / Reuters

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