Former world number one Tiger Woods carded a four-under 67 to lurk a stroke behind of
Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge who seized the lead by carding a two-under 69 in the third round of the storm hit Congressional.
De Jonge birdied three holes but hardly had any spectators after they were told to stay away because of a severe storm that struck the area overnight.
Tournament officials delayed the start of the round for six hours for safety concerns, fans and volunteers were told to stay away so just players, their family members, security and media were allowed in.
The storm snapped trees, tore temporary tents from their foundations and scattered debris across the course.
Along with downed branches around the course, a 75-foot (22m) tree fell on the fairway of the 14th hole and many of the wooden signs identifying the holes were blown down.
Woods moved to within one shot of the lead with four birdies on his first 10 holes.
He is tied with first-round leader Bo Van Pelt (67) and South Korea’s Noh Seung-yul (69).
Playing without huge galleries in competition for the first time in decades, former world number one Woods was bogey-free, picking up his four birdies in the opening 10 holes, including a majestic chip-in on the sixth.
Second-round leader Hunter Mahan stumbled to a two-over 73. He finished three rounds tied with fellow American Billy Hurley (66) at five-under-par 208. Jhonattan Vegas (68) is one stroke back at four-under.
Tournament officials said they hope to have cleared the area in time for Sunday’s final round.
