Woods closes with 62 to pile pressure on McIlroy

Needing to win the Honda Classic to take over from Luke Donald, the 22-year-old Northern Irishman had his lead cut from four to one early on the back nine, but then birdied the 13th.

Woods finished birdie-eagle to set the clubhouse target of 10 under and then waited to see if McIlroy cracked over the closing stretch.

It was the lowest final round of his PGA Tour career and it came moments after Westwood equalled his lowest-ever score in America to reach eight under, but they had started the day in 18th and 27th place respectively.

McIlroy was 12 under, Woods 10 under and England’s Justin Rose and American Tom Gillis nine under with four and five to play respectively, but Rose then went into the water on the short 15th – the first leg of a three-hole stretch known as the “Bear Trap”.

Woods, who had two eagles and four birdies, said: “I’ve been hitting it like this, that’s the thing.

“I hit it really good in the wind in Australia and thought there was no reason I couldn’t do it again – and putt like I did the last two days. It came together.

“I figured I needed birdie-birdie to have a chance.”

After a near two-hour thunderstorm delay Woods eagled the third and birdied the fifth, seventh and 11th holes to charge from 18th place to joint- fourth.

At that stage, he was still four behind McIlroy after the 22-year-old Northern Irishman parred the opening seven holes to remain 11 under par. McIlroy, who had to win to end Luke Donald’s nine-month reign as world No 1, was having to work hard.

He sank par putts of 13 and eight feet on the second and fifth, then a 15-footer at the short seventh, but his overnight two-stroke lead was down to one as 43-year-old American Gillis covered the opening stretch in one under.

At that stage Rose was not out of it either. After a 27-foot birdie putt on the first he bogeyed the next, but then holed from 50 feet at the seventh and on eight under was in outright third place.

Woods also sank a 27-footer for his eagle and then added putts from nine, 10 and 14 feet – and almost made one of nearly 60 feet on the 10th.

Westwood matched Woods’s outward 31 and when he almost pitched in at the 13th he was up from 18th to seventh on six under.

McIlroy was two ahead once more when he converted a 10-foot chance for his first birdie of the day on the eighth and the gap went to three as Gillis three-putted the next.

Westwood and Woods were producing the rounds of the day and Westwood’s nine-foot putt on the 14th brought them together on seven under – joint fourth, but five behind.

Gillis bogeyed again on the 10th to hand McIlroy a four-stroke lead, but while the US Open champion was only one under for the day, Westwood went to seven under with a 28ft putt on the 17th.

That brought him alongside Rose in joint second place after starting the round 27th and there was still the par-5 18th to come. Another birdie and he would sign for an amazing 62.

At that stage, Woods was still seven under with three to play. Gillis cut the difference back to three with a birdie putt from nearly 30 feet at the 11th and McIlroy then had his first bogey of the day on the next after driving into the rough and missing from 10 feet.

Westwood could do no better than par on the last, but a seven under 63 still matched his lowest-ever round in the States.

He was in on eight under and Woods was alongside him after holing from 24 feet at the 17th. With McIlroy’s dropped shot they and Rose were only three behind in joint third.

Woods then produced a majestic approach to the last and holed the putt for an eagle, pinching the air in delight as the ball dropped into the hole. It left him waiting to see if McIlroy would slip up.