World's no.1 Tiger Woods fired a seven-under 64 on Saturday's third round play to keep him with striking distance of clubhouse leader Sergio Garcia heading into the third round of the Deutsche Bank Championship.
After shooting a four-under 67 in the second round, Woods played better golf in the second straight day alongside British Open champion Phil Mickelson and Masters champ Adam Scott.
The top-rank golfer showed much better control off the tee, hitting 16 of 18 greens in regulations and 10 for 14 in fairways. He capped his superb outing with a 35-foot putt in the 18th hole to put him six shots behind Garcia.
"I hit it better today," Woods told reporters via ESPN after finishing his round at TPC Boston. "I didn't make much out there. It was a good enough day."
Garcia came through with perhaps his best form this season after opening the third round with five birdies and capping it with an 18-foot eagle putt on hole no.18. Garcia's 64 put him on top of the leaderboard ahead of Roberto Castro (65) and Henrik Stenson (63).
But the day wasn't all good for other golfers, especially Mickelson, who shot a 71 after firing a 63 in the opening round. Mickelson, who finished sixth at the Barclays, is still five strokes behind Garcia despite a rough day on the field.
FedEx Cup playoff contender Matt Kuchar and Jason Dufner are three strokes off the leaders after both golfers fired 66 in the first and second round. Meanwhile, two-time Grand Slam champion McIlroy narrowly made the cut after scoring one-under 141.
McIlroy, whose girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki was ousted at the US Open Championship Saturday night, has been struggling with his stroke majority of the season and yesterday wasn't an exception.
For complete scores in the first and second round of the Deutsche Bank Championship, a leaderboard is available on ESPN Golf.