THOUSAND OAKS, California - For the first time this year, Tiger Woods has strung together three good rounds with the quality of his ball-striking and the coolness of his course management suggesting he is back to his best.

Having delayed the start of his 2010 campaign after being engulfed by a torrid sex scandal, the 14-times major champion is now ideally placed to end it with a long-awaited victory at the Chevron World Challenge that he hosts.

Woods opened with a sparkling seven-under-par 65 on the undulating Sherwood Country Club layout and followed up with a 66 and 68 to lead the elite field of 18 by four strokes going into Sunday's final round.