Tiger Woods Narrowing in for Dubai Leaderboard

LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Tiger Woods remains near the top of the Dubai Desert Classic leaderboard Saturday; but if Tiger Woods wins in Dubai, it would become Woods’ first tournament title in over a year. After the second round, that fate seemed within grasp. In round two, Tiger shot a 66. But with a 72 in round three, Woods remains seven under.

Woods is tied for fourth with no less than six other competitors in a crowded leaderboard. Woods is tied with others including Brit Brett Rumford and Frenchman Jean Baptiste Gonnet. But the big mover in the third round was Anders Hansen who shot a 71, putting him tied for first atop the leaderboard along with Rory McIlroy and Thomas Aiken, all 8 under.

Woods hasn’t won a tournament in more than twelve months. But with Woods having won Dubai in 2006 and 2008, there is hope for Tiger this weekend.

In related news, Tiger Woods confirmed he is not returning to the Northern Trust Open, missing the tournament for the fifth year in a row. Phil Mickelson tells news he will play the Northern Trust Open, trying to repeat his wins for 2008 and 2009. Woods hasn’t played the Riviera tournament in the Pacific Palisades since 2006. To date, of eleven appearances at Riviera, Tiger has never won.

Justin Leonard, Nick Watney and Y.E. Yang are confirmed for the Riviera. Other contenders will include  Corey Pavin and Fred Couples .