PARAMUS, N.J. _ The thirst for more birdies far exceeded Tiger Woods' happiness in avoiding any bogeys.
Woods' bogey-free round _ his first since 2015 _ during Saturday's third round of The Northern Trust did little to whet his appetite or raise his enthusiasm.
Rather, Woods was more focused on the reality that his 3-under-par 68, with three birdies, brings his total birdies at The Ridgewood Country Club to a measly eight.
"As soft as it is, you've got to try to make birdies," said Woods, whose missed six birdie putts ranging from four to 13 feet, "and I just didn't do it."
Woods stands at 3-under 210 entering Sunday's finale of this FedEx Cup Playoff opener. Co-leaders Brooks Koepka and Jamie Lovemark headed into Saturday's 2 p.m. tee time at 10-under.
Though Woods closed his round with a 6-foot birdie putt on the 18th _ one day after closing that par-4 with a 4-foot miss for par _ he lamented his half-dozen lost opportunities on this rain-softened course.
"It was about the same, to be honest with you," said Woods, who previously carded a pair of 71s. "I just didn't make any bogeys. For the week, I've only made eight birdies, and that's not going to get it done. These guys are making a boatload of birdies. As soft as it is, I haven't."
"I'm kind of getting in these spots where I have double breakers, or if not, triple-breaking, putts, and I'm just not seeing or feeling correctly in a few of these areas," he added. "It's just one of those weeks."
He is not contemplating changing putters, joking "I've had to change putters over the years just because I've altered the shaft after the round."
He has changed drivers during this comeback season, largely because he is gaining physical strength. He has returned to an old, familiar club, and it's working.
"This entire year has been kind of a moving target, just because my swing has changed, my body has changed," said Woods, in his first FedEx Cup Playoff since 2013. "It's morphed over the entire year, and so I'm at place now where I think that shaft works again."
Woods hopes to build momentum Sunday, carry it into the Dell Technologies Championship in Massachusetts, and roll into the Playoff finale, the Tour Championship, Sept. 20-23 in Atlanta.
"I don't have to do a whole lot to get into the Tour Championship, but I still have to do enough," said Woods, who entered ranked 20th in the standings and needs to remain in the top 30 to reach the TOUR Championship. "And hopefully I'll play well (Sunday) and into next week and get some momentum going."
Woods remains in contention to earn an invitation to next month's Ryder Cup in Paris. U.S. captain Jim Furyk still has four wild-card picks to round out the 12-player team.
Woods has set a Sunday goal of reaching 10-under, which means he has to close with a 7-under 64. This course has surrendered a 64, with Adam Scott going low Friday with eight birdies.
"I just want to get to 10-under," Woods said. "I think that would be a nice way to end the week. It's not going to win, but at least I can get some good momentum going into Boston on a golf course where I've won before."
