NASSAU, Bahamas — Asked Saturday what his reaction would be if he was told earlier in the week he would be 8-under through 54 holes at the Hero World Challenge, Tiger Woods responded, “I’d have said I’d be pretty far behind. And I’m right.’’
The tournament host and the man most everyone has come to see perform this week has played well, particularly for his first tournament in nearly 16 months. But considering the fact Bubba Watson won this event at 25-under last year, the first time it was played at Albany Golf Club, Woods knew what was ahead.
And ahead is where Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama is through three rounds of the Hero World Challenge. Way ahead.
Matsuyama, who has won three of the last four tournaments he has played (and the one he didn’t win, he finished runner-up), is 19-under with a seven-shot led entering the final round after shooting 65 on Saturday.
“Hideki’s just putting it on us,’’ Woods said. “I knew somebody was going to go low, but I thought it was going to be probably three, four guys that would post this kind of score [and] Hideki’s just playing unbelievable golf.
“I mean, if you come out here and you play halfway decent — you don’t have to play great, just play halfway decent — you’re going to make four or five birdies. Just don’t make any bogeys. And then if you get a little bit hot, you’re going to shoot 7-, 8-under par.
“I was trying to get to 13-[under] and I thought that was going to be a good number. [If] I got to 13, I thought I was going to keep it within probably three to four [shots] of the lead. But Hideki’s at 19. So he’s built a nice cushion. My number would have been still pretty short.’’
Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson, both of whom are 12-under, are battling for the silver medal Sunday, along with Brandt Snedeker and Matt Kuchar, who are 11-under.
“I can’t really think about the lead, because everyone in the field can shoot 8- or 9-under,’’ Matsuyama said. “So I just have to keep my head down.’’
Johnson was keeping pace with Matsuyama for a while (he was 14-under at one point), but a double bogey on 18 sabotaged him.
“Obviously, I finished poorly,’’ Johnson said. “I didn’t drive it good at all. I think I hit it in the dirt or sand nine times. Doubling the last kind of hurt.’’
Johnson, who was paired with Matsuyama Saturday, said, “He’s playing well. The key out here it driving well and I think he missed one fairway — No. 16 — and made bogey.’’
Asked if he can catch Matsuyama, Johnson said, “Obviously, anything’s possible. But I’m going to have to shoot a really special round.’’
Stenson was asked if the hardware he won this summer — the British Open Claret Jug, the Olympic silver medal and the Race to Dubai trophy — have weighed him down.
“Yeah, all those trophies are dragging me down; it’s hard to swim with those on your back,’’ he said jokingly. “It’s been a great year and I’m going to take time off and regroup for next year.’’
Asked what he would like to do in the 2017 season, Stenson said, “Copy-paste. That would be nice.’’