FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- As Tiger Woods made his way around the back nine of the Black Course at Bethpage State Park yesterday, the roars of the boisterous crowd rang in his ears.
There was only one problem: the roars were mostly for those trying to catch Woods in the 102nd U.S. Open.
They were for Phil Mickelson, who, at 3-over par, had started the third round eight strokes behind Woods but was within two shots of the lead at 1-under par through 17 holes.
They were for Spain's Sergio Garcia, who had begun the day seven strokes down but also climbed to 1 under after nearly making a hole-in-one on the par-3 14th and then making another birdie on the par-4 16th.
They weren't for Woods, who had come into the round with a three-shot lead over Padraig Harrington, and had watched it briefly increase to five at the turn before his second bogey and a subsequent three-putt par left the world's best player hanging on.
"It seemed like I was over par for most of the day," Woods said later. "But I hung in there and I saw the guys were making a run at it, at me, and I just tried to keep hanging in there. ... And I hung in there and was able to make two big putts on 15 and 17 for birdies."
Those birdies helped bring the roars back to Woods, his round back to even-par 70 and, at 5-under 205, his lead back to four strokes going into today's final round. Garcia was in second place after a 3-under 67.
Mickelson, who also shot 67, and Jeff Maggert, who finished with a 68, were at even-par 210, five strokes behind. Harrington, who played with Woods yesterday and shot a 73, was at 1-over par. The 30-year-old Irishman was tied with Billy Mayfair and Robert Allenby of Australia.
While the final pairing of Woods and Garcia should make for some interesting theater here at the so-called "People's Open," just how intriguing the golf is remains to be seen. Woods has never relinquished a 54-hole lead in a major, winning seven times.
Asked last night if there was a difference between a two-stroke lead and a four-stroke lead going into the final round, Woods said, "Not when you're dealing with a major championship. You've still got to go out and get the job done."
It will mark the first time Garcia will play in the final group at a major. Three years ago in the PGA Championship at Medinah outside Chicago, Garcia made a run at Woods while playing in the group ahead of him before losing by a stroke.
