Woods’ Quest Is Not Easy

Thanks to a determined performance by the Big Easy, Tiger Woods’ bid to win his fifth consecutive PGA Tour event became much more difficult.

Ernie Els, who only two days ago said he wasn’t in the same league as the No. 1 player in the world, proved he was up to the challenge Saturday. His six-under-par 67 erased a four-stroke deficit and gave him a share of the lead with Woods in the Mercedes Championship.

“I’m just trying to stay tough and play my game,” Els said. “If I’m on my game, he’s going to have a tough time beating me. Today was important. This week is important. This is a good start for me.”

It’s a great start for the PGA Tour. One tournament into the 2000 season, the final round could turn into another showdown between Woods and Els, with defending champion David Duval only four strokes behind.

Els needed some help to get back in the game, and Woods delivered. Two poor chips led to bogeys, and he battled his swing throughout a cloudy, blustery day at the Plantation Course at Kapalua. But Woods managed to hang in there after his second bogey dropped him one stroke behind. He made a 30-foot eagle putt on the 18th for a two-under 71.

Els and Woods were at 11-under 208 and will go head to head one more time today.

“I wasn’t playing that well,” Woods said. “To end on three good, solid shots definitely leaves a good taste in my mouth. I just have to go out and play hard . . . and see what happens.”

At stake for Woods is a chance to become the first player since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win five consecutive tournaments. History is on his side. Woods has won his last 10 PGA Tour events--and last 13 tournaments worldwide--when he has had at least a share of the 54-hole lead.

For Els, a victory would be the perfect way to start the new year, one in which the two-time U.S. Open champion is determined to milk more victories out of his talent.

“He had an off day and still shot two under,” Els said. “The talent, the ability is abundant. Let’s face it, this guy is great. I’ve got to find a way to keep up with him.”

He did Saturday, even hitting drives 10 yards past Woods’ ball at times as he attacked every hole. While Els had few complaints about a 67, it could have been much lower--he missed four birdie putts from eight feet or less.

Duval finally saw the putts fall and reaped the results--a bogey-free 67 that put him at 212. Brent Geiberger (67) was another stroke back.

Tom Pernice Jr. had the best round of the tournament, an eight-under 65 that left him in a large group at 216, probably too far back to make a difference.

Woods birdied the opening hole to take a five-stroke lead, but it turned around quickly for Els. He birdied four straight holes starting with an approach to eight feet on No. 4, and the friendly banter between the two came to a halt.

Woods blinked first with a chunked wedge at the seventh green that led to a bogey, but he didn’t give up sole possession of the lead until another poor chip on the 13th dropped him back to 10 under.

A bogey by Woods on the par-five 15th gave Els the lead, but Woods caught him with two brilliant shots on the 663-yard closing hole, and a putt that finally found the center of the cup. Els closed with a birdie.