Woods had emerged as a shock contender on the first two days despite being ranked 1,199th and playing his first event since having surgery on his lower back.

But he started Saturday sluggish and bogeyed the first, third and fifth holes.

He then expensed the seventh and 10th with bogies to undo all of his previous hard work.

Woods tried to make amends later on with birdies on the 14th and 17th in a bid to finish on par for the day.

But the end result was a three-over-par 75 day which saw him slide down the table and all-but crush his championship dream.

Woods now trails Hoffman by 10 strokes, and he is experienced enough to know where he went wrong.

“I played four par 5s and I hadn't made a birdie yet. That's not very good,” Woods said.

“I was trying to get back to even par for the day, that was my goal.

“I finished three short of my goal but I was heading in the right direction.

“I think overall I'm very happy with what's going on this week.”

Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth are Hoffman’s closest challengers after their respective one-under 71s.