Wayward Woods slips further adrift

Tiger Woods's chance to charge evaporated at the first hole of the Barclays on Saturday, leaving the world number one with work to do just to stay alive in the US PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs.

Woods opened his third round at Ridgewood Country Club with a stunningly poor three-wood that soared over the trees and out of bounds.

He ended up with triple-bogey and never regained the ground he lost.

A birdie-birdie finish saw Woods sign for a one-over 72 that left him well off the pace.

Only the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings advance to the Deutsche Bank Championship next week near Boston.

Padraig Harrington finished the third round on five under par, seven behind the leader, Scotland's Martin Laird.

Laird is three clear of the chasing pack, with Dustin Johnson and Jason Day on nine under.

Woods entered the tournament ranked 112th in FedEx Cup points, and a solid round on Sunday should be enough to insure he moves on.

Woods had created a stir on Thursday when he fired a six-under 65 to seize a share of the first-round lead alongside fellow American Vaughn Taylor.

The round was his lowest since a sex scandal erupted around him last November and came three days after Woods's divorce from Elin Nordegren was finalized.

He faltered on Friday, falling four strokes off the halfway lead.