Woods, playing his first official stroke-play event in China, shot a 5-under-par 67 yesterday and enters the final round of the $5-million US HSBC Champions event one stroke behind leader David Howell.

Woods is tied for second at 15-under 201 with Australian Nick O'Hern, who had a 67 for the third consecutive round. Howell, who shared the lead with Australia's Nick Dougherty after the second round, missed a birdie putt on the last hole and settled for a 68.

"Considering this is the biggest golfing event they've ever had, I think it would be very special to have your name associated with that," he said.

Woods has taken time this weekend to educate fans and photographers. Golf in China was nearly non-existent 20 years ago, but the country hosted six European events in 2005.

At the first hole, Woods loosened the grip on his driver, turned and asked the gallery to "hold the cameras." He interceded when a woman started moving while playing partner Kenneth Ferrie was lining up a crucial putt on No. 4. Woods called out courteously: "Ma'am, hold still - please!"

His patience ran out on the 12th tee, where he glared at a photographer after having to check his swing. The camera was taken by a security guard, and Woods went on to birdie the hole.

"There are a lot of distractions out there, certainly," he said. "My playing partners and I have to play through that. You've got to block it out as much as you can."

"Chaos surrounds him out there. I had it for five minutes at the end today and I was frustrated - he probably deals with that every day," Howell said.

Neumann birdied four of her first six holes to erase a four-shot deficit and take the lead. She reached 11 under with a two-putt birdie at the par-5 16th, but gave that stroke back with a three-putt bogey at the par-3 17th, falling into a four-way tie for the lead before a birdie at the last hole.

"It's interesting how it works out," the 39-year-old Neumann said. "Someone up in the lead could have shot 2, 3 or 4 under and I still would have been quite a ways behind. If you shoot 5 or 6 under, you figure that you are going to hopefully catch up to someone."

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