Woods Shoots a 73 to Lead by Only 12

Even a great artist does not produce a masterpiece every time.

Stanford’s Tiger Woods, 18 under par after two rounds of the Pacific 10 Conference golf tournament, shot a workmanlike, one-over 73 in the third round Tuesday at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach.

“Everybody knew I wasn’t going to do that again, not even close to that,” said Woods, alluding to the rounds of 61 and 65 he shot Monday. “I made a few good shots but it’s just not going to happen all day. . . .

“I was fortunate to shoot 73.”

Woods’ total of 199 leaves him 12 strokes ahead of Arizona State’s Chris Hanell, whose 68 was the low round Tuesday. USC’s Brian Hull, playing in Woods’ group for the second consecutive day, shot a 69 and is 13 strokes behind.

Arizona State, shooting for its third team title in four years, pulled farther away from the field. The Sun Devils, who have four players in the top 10, are one over par for the tournament, 26 strokes ahead of USC and California. Stanford dropped to fourth, 31 behind.

Although Woods made a birdie on the 499-yard, par-five second hole, it was quickly apparent that his game wasn’t on a par with Tuesday’s. On the 163-yard third, his tee shot landed on the front edge of the green and spun back into deep grass on a steep bank above a bunker. He chipped to within six feet, but missed the putt.

It was the first of three consecutive bogeys for Woods.

Woods did, however, give the gallery of about 300 at least one memorable shot. On the par-four 14th, he hit a sand wedge from 119 yards that landed about eight feet beyond the flag, spun back, caught the slope and rolled into the hole.

Woods, who needs to shoot 73 or better to break the Pac-10 tournament low of 273 set by UCLA’s Corey Pavin in 1982, is scheduled to tee off today at 9:40 a.m.