While Tiger Woods falters, Hideki Matsuyama surges to big lead at Hero World Challenge

Tiger Woods started with brief run at the lead. Hideki Matsuyama ended Saturday on his way to another victory.

Matsuyama, a winner in three of his last four tournaments, holed out for eagle on the front nine and kept his mistakes to a minimum for a seven-under-par 65 to build a seven-shot lead in the Hero World Challenge at Nassau, Bahamas.

British Open champion Henrik Stenson (66) and U.S. Open winner Dustin Johnson (72) were the closest players to the Japanese star.

Woods was even farther back — 11 shots — though the opening hour was filled with big excitement and raised expectations. Woods opened with three straight birdies, and then holed out a 40-yard bunker shot on the par-three fifth hole to get within two shots as Matsuyama was getting started.

But it didn’t last.

After an 18-foot birdie putt on the 11th hole to reach 11 under, Woods started missing fairways and dropping shots. And he ended the third round with another tee shot into the water on the 18th hole for a double bogey. He had to settle for a 70 and was in 10th place among 17 players. Even so, Woods has made 19 birdies in three rounds of his first tournament in 15 months.

Matsuyama was at 19-under 197.

Johnson tried to stay with him, but had a hard time keeping it out of the sandy areas off the tee. Matsuyama was two shots ahead when he laid up on the short seventh hole, which played downwind, and then one-hopped his wedge into the cup for an eagle. Just like that, the lead was up to four. And when Johnson kept making mistake, ending with a double bogey on the 18th, the margin only got wider.

Brandt Snedeker (69) and Matt Kuchar (71) were at 11-under 205.

Dodt holds onto lead in Australia

Australia’s Andrew Dodt held the lead for the third straight round at the Australian PGA, shooting a two-under 70 to reach 14-under 202 at Gold Coast.

American Harold Varner III (67) and Australia’s Ashley Hall (70) were two strokes back. Australian star Adam Scott (70) and countryman John Senden (68) were at 10 under.

Stone ahead by three strokes at Dunhill Championship

Brandon Stone shot his second straight six-under 66 to take a three -stroke lead in the Alfred Dunhill Championship. The 23-year-old South African had a 17-under 199 total at Leopard Creek in Malelane, South Africa.

Defending champion Charl Schwartzel (68), fellow South African Keith Horne (67) and England’s Chris Hanson (68) were tied for second. Schwartzel has won the event four times.

Green leads LPGA Tour qualifying

Jaye Marie Green shot a two-under 70 on the Hills Course to take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the LPGA Tour qualifying tournament.

The top 20 will earn full cards and the next 25 and ties will get conditional status.

Green had a 15-under 273 total at LPGA International. Iceland’s Olafia Kristinsdottir was second after a 68 on the Jones Course in Daytona Beach, Fla. The former Wake Forest player is trying to become the first player from Iceland to play the LPGA Tour.

Sadena Parks was third at 12 under after a 68 on the Hills Course. Third-round leader Nasa Hataoka had a 75 on the Hills Course to drop to fourth at 10 under. The 17-year-old Japanese player won a Japan LPGA major in October.