Woods within 1 shot of lead at Dubai

Tiger Woods is bidding to end his drought in the desert.

The former world No. 1 is 1 shot off the lead going into today’s final round of the Dubai Desert Classic, rallying from a disastrous start with an eagle and 3 birdies on the back nine for a par 72 in windy conditions Saturday.

Woods finished the third round at 7-under 209, in a seven-way tie for fourth behind co-leaders Rory McIlroy (75), Anders Hansen (71) and Thomas Aiken (74).

Woods showed some of the resilience that recently has been lacking from his game on a dusty day in the desert during which the wind reached 28 mph. After a double bogey at No. 9 left Woods at 4-over 39, he started his surge with an eagle on the par-5 10th and followed with a birdie on No. 11. He closed with birdies on Nos. 15 and 18 sandwiched around a bogey on 16.

“The fact I was able to battle from 4 over par and put myself with a chance going into tomorrow, I’m proud of that,” Woods said. “Hopefully, I can build on that.”

Woods’ last victory came at the Australian Masters in November 2009. He is now No. 3 in the rankings behind Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer.

The top-ranked Westwood was tied for 13th at 5 under, while Kaymer was 8 shots off the lead after a 76.

Pebble Beach National Pro-Am:

Thousands of fans came to Pebble Beach, Calif., for sunshine, scenery and celebrity entertainment. The leaders were somewhere else Saturday in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Far away from the commotion, Steve Marino struggled with the speed of the greens on the Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula and ended his round with a three-putt bogey from 4 feet for a 1-over 71. That still was enough for him to take a 1-shot lead going into the final round over Jimmy Walker, who had a 63 at Monterey Peninsula, and Bryce Molder, who had a 68.

Allianz Championship:

Peter Senior shot a 67 to take a 1-stroke lead after two rounds of the Allianz Championship at Boca Raton, Fla. Senior was at 11-under 133 after a blustery day. He trailed Rod Spittle for most of the round but birdied the par-5 18th to grab the lead in the Champions Tour event. Spittle bogeyed the 18th to finish with a 67 and a score of 10 under. Tom Lehman was tied for second after shooting a 69.