McDowell leads into final round

Last updated: 2nd December 2012

Graeme McDowell retained his lead with a third round 68 at the World Challenge at a rain-dampened Thousand Oaks in California, while tournament host Tiger Woods moved into joint third with a second successive 69.

McDowell, hunting his first victory since he won this competition in 2010, registered four birdies in his first 11 holes, keeping the bogey off his card, and came home with seven straight pars. American Keegan Bradley snuck into second position behind him with a 67 - the best score of the day - while Woods will start the final round five shots back.

"Bogey-free is always nice on any golf course," said McDowell said. "It would have been nice to pick a few more up on the way in I guess, finishing with seven straight pars when there are some chances out there. But two shots ahead going into Sunday, I'll take that any week, anywhere, any time. It's right where you need to be."

Woods battled damp conditions for his 69 which drew him level with fellow American Bo Van Pelt, who shot a 70 to drop back. Woods chipped in for a birdie at the first, adding three more in the last five holes.

who chipped in for birdie at the first and added three birdies in the last five holes to stay in touch, said the soggy conditions made for hard play, even with players allowed to lift, clean and place the ball in the fairway.

"It was wet out there," said Woods."It was a little sloppy early and overall I thought it was tough to get the ball close today.

"The greens were so soft, they're spinning so much, and then on top of that they didn't cut the fairways. Even though we had ball in hand, a couple times we caught a couple of little fliers from the fairway."