Tiger Woods has blamed his three-over-par 75 on poor driving after the third round of the Wachovia Championship.

"I had two-way misses (off the tee)," the world number one told reporters after dropping five shots adrift of leader Arron Oberholser (68).

"If I tried to hit it left, I'd hook it further left or hang it to the right. If I tried to go right, I'd slice it further right or leave it left."

Woods had a similar problem during his first-round 69 on Thursday but found a solution on the practice range and improved to such an extent he fired a six-under 66 to grab a two-stroke lead at the halfway stage.

The 28-year-old American, who ended the third round in joint 11th position on six-under 210, would have been even worse off but for a few par saves and the occasional moment of brilliance.

Woods carded three bogeys and a birdie on the opening nine at Quail Hollow Golf Club before recording three birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey on the inward half.

TOUGH DAY

He did, however, show his length off the tee by smashing the ball onto the putting surface with his driver at the 345-yard, par-four 14th and two-putting for his birdie.

Woods is the only player this week to hit the green from the tee at that hole.

He picked up another birdie at the 15th but bogeyed the 16th and then pulled his tee shot at the 17th into the water on the left to take a double-bogey five.

"It was a tough day," Woods said. "I didn't have it at all. I fought as hard as I could but I really put myself behind the eight-ball.

"I could not get comfortable over any shot. On a course this demanding, that's bad."

Woods hit only six of 14 fairways and found 10 of 18 greens in regulation.

But his form on the greens was again his strength. Woods took 28 putts and leads the field in putts per round with a 25.00 average.