Woods Leads by 6 in Mother’s Land

Tiger Woods made five birdies on the front nine and shot a 66 Saturday, taking a six-stroke lead into the final round of the Asian Honda Classic at Bangna, Thailand.

Playing in 95-degree heat and high humidity, Woods had a 16-under-par 200 after three rounds on the par-72, 7,016-yard course at the Thai Country Club. He bogeyed the final hole after driving into the rough and hitting short on an approach shot and a chip.

“I’m playing well because I’m thinking well out there,” Woods said. “I haven’t made any major mental mistakes.”

Greg Hanrahan shot a 70 to stand alone in second.

Woods, whose mother, Kultida, was born in Thailand, is playing there for the first time since he turned pro.

About 1,000 of Woods’ fans followed him around the course, cheering his every shot and applauding as he arrived on tees and greens.

“The fans here are generally better behaved than in the United States,” Woods said.

Should he win, Woods said he probably would return next year.

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Dave Stockton rode a hot putter to a second-round 67 and held a one-stroke lead over three players after two rounds of the Senior PGA Tour’s LG Championship in Naples, Fla.

Stockton had a 36-hole total of nine-under-par 135, one shot ahead of Hale Irwin, who had a 66.

Stockton started with birdies on three of his first four holes--a 25-footer on No. 2, a six-footer on No. 3 and a 14-footer on No. 4. He finished the round with seven birdies and two bogeys.

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Kelly Robbins survived a double bogey to shoot a three-under 69 and held a two-stroke lead after the third round of the $500,000 National Pro-Am at West Palm Beach, Fla.

The leader after each round, Robbins was at two-under 204, two shots ahead of Jane Geddes.

Robbins had a double bogey on the fourth hole, but she birdied four of five holes midway through the round on the 6,277-yard Legend course at Ibis Golf & Country Club.

Playing partner Geddes birdied four of the last eight holes for a 69. Vicki Goetze and Laurel Kean, each looking for a first LPGA victory, shot 68 and were at 207.

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Tom Lehman took a one-shot lead in the Ford Open golf championship after shooting a six-under-par 66 in the third round at Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide, Australia.

Lehman, who started the day at seven under, moved to 13-under 207. Australian Wayne Grady was a shot behind after his second consecutive 66.

Lehman started with a birdie on the par-four first hole and an eagle on the par-four second.

He said it might take a score of 18 under to win but thought it possible that going lower might be necessary.

“I think somebody could shoot 62 here,” Lehman said. “If I look at my rounds, I know there’s been the potential for a low round like that.”

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Fred Couples birdied the ninth hole to win $43,200 and take the only cash on the opening day of the Australian Skins game at Coolum, in southeast Queensland.

Couples’ 16-foot birdie shut out his rivals, fellow American Larry Mize and Australians Peter Senior and Rodger Davis.

Golf Notes

Tiger Woods will join Arnold Palmer for a skins game to benefit a Westmoreland (Pa.) County hospital. Tom Lehman and Davis Love III will complete the foursome for the match Aug. 25 at Laurel Valley Golf Club in Ligonier, Pa.