Associated Press
Sunday, December 10

BELLA VISTA, Argentina -- Tiger Woods and David Duval took full advantage of the best-ball format in the third round of the World Cup of Golf.

	David Duval lines up a putt while Tiger Woods waits, and Woods had to wait for 14 holes before creating some excitement.

With Duval making up for Woods' sluggish start and Woods closing strong, the U.S. duo combined for eagle and 10 birdies Saturday to take a three-stroke lead.

"We kind of bailed each other out. And that's what you need to do in this type of format," Woods said.

"With the wind blowing as hard as it was today, you really had to hit the ball solid. And I felt like I was able to make some good, solid shots."

Woods eagled the par-5 14th hole to give the team the lead in the 24-team tournament at the Buenos Aires Golf Club. Woods and Duval finished with a 12-under 60 for a 30-under 186 total.

"I think that the format lends itself to really feeling like you can make up for errors on the other half of the team," Duval said.

New Zealand's Frank Nobilo and Greg Turner and Argentina's Angel Cabrera and Eduardo Romero were second after 65s.

The winning team will earn $1 million in the $3 million event that closes Sunday with an alternate-shot round.

Woods hit into a lake on the 209-yard eighth hole. He and his caddie scoured the lakeside reeds, but couldn't find the ball. Duval parred the hole.

Woods found the water again on the 456-yard 10th hole. His approach shot seemed to be sailing smoothly to the green but fell short, bouncing back into the lake at the green's edge. Duval birdied the hole after hitting his approach shot within seven inches.

The large gallery following the Americans shouted "Let's Go Tiger!" after his eagle. He went on to finish with two more birdies, on the 16th and 17th holes.

At one point on the 11th hole, Woods had missed such an easy putt that he threw his putter to the ground.

Turner had four birdies and Nobilo added three for New Zealand. Cabrera eagled the 17th hole to move Argentina into the second-place tie.

"Today we were not very lucky," Romero said. "We had many putts that should have gone in but went out, and we can change that tomorrow."

Canada's Mike Weir and Glen Hnatiuk were fourth at 195 after a 62, and Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley shot a 66 for a 196 total.

Last year, Woods and Mark O'Meara teamed for a five-stroke victory over Spain in Malaysia. Woods won the individual title by nine strokes with a 21-under 263 total, both tournament records. The individual portion of the tournament has been eliminated.