Woods scuffling along in third round

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- As if Tiger Woods doesn't have enough to contend with given his erratic ball-striking of late, there is also the intriguing collection of sound effects that accompany him over the course of a round.

As Woods played the fifth tee, there were dogs wailing in the background. On the previous fairway, a cell phone ring to the tune of the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" went off as Woods was addressing his ball.

Fans call out endlessly, most of it encouraging. As Woods walked to the fourth tee, a young man from behind the rope line greeted the player sincerely.

"Still love you, Tiger," he said.

"Thanks, bro," Woods replied.

Not to be discounted is the soundtrack Woods provides himself. When his tee shot on the dogleg right fourth refused to cut, and bounded into the rough, Woods was left with an approach from an even lie. When the ball came up short, the player was incredulous.

"You've got to be kidding me," Woods said. "What the hell happened? It's supposed to jump."

His first bogey of the day would follow, negating a birdie he made at the par-5 second, and Woods continued another uneven, but utterly intriguing round. At three under, he remains nine shots behind leader Lee Westwood, who is still hours away from teeing off.

-- Sam Weinman