The Open 2010: Tiger Woods annoyed by missed putts
The Open Championship, St Andrews, 15-18 July Live coverage: BBC TV, HD, Red Button, BBC Sport website & Radio 5 live Highlights: Red Button, BBC Sport website and iPlayer
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Jimenez uses wall to reach green
Tiger Woods was frustrated after a one-over round of 73 left him 12 shots off the lead at the Open at St Andrews.
The world number one struggled to convert several chances on the greens with his new putter, failing to produce the famous Woods 'charge'.
"I played well but made nothing. I just couldn't get anything started so failed to get momentum," he told BBC Sport.
Fellow American Phil Mickelson also saw his challenge fade, as did veteran Mark Calcavecchia after a five-over 77.
Woods added: "I putted well on the first day, yesterday wasn't as good and today I certainly didn't putt well at all.
Woods fails to "gather momentum"
"The wind was laying down just a little bit when we were coming in as well. All of a sudden the golf course felt playable."
The world number one, seeking to become the first man in 150 years to win the Open three times at St Andrews, finished the day at three under for the tournament.
And with Louis Oosthuizen (15 under) still showing no signs of tripping up at the top of the leaderboard, a first win since November, when events in his personal life turned his life upside down, now looks extremely unlikely.
Woods struggled for rhythm in his third round, making three birdies and four bogeys, including one dropped shot at the par-five fifth, when his second shot found a gorse bush.
Another shot slipped away at the Road Hole 17th when his second ran through the green. Despite a fabulous recovery shot, he missed the putt and had to settle for a five.
"Ironically enough now I'm driving it beautifully and I'm not making any putts. It's just one of those things where you just have to be patient," said Woods.
"I was grinding. I was as patient as I possibly could be, and I was just trying to plod my way along and just didn't get anything going."
Woods' compatriot Mickelson looked on course for a terrific fightback early on Saturday, having reached hole 13 at four under for the round.
However, a double bogey at 16, followed by another dropped shot at the tricky 17th, saw him drop back to two under and out of contention.
Calcavecchia, the 1989 champion who began the day in second place, saw his chances fall apart with a disastrous nine on the par-five fifth and eventually signed for a 77, the joint-worst round of the day.
Miguel Angel Jimenez delighted the crowds with a stunning piece of ingenuity after running into trouble on the 17th.
Turning his back on the flag, he struck his ball against the wall and saw it rebound over his head and onto the green.
Unfortunately for the popular Spaniard his bogey putt slid past the hole, although a birdie at the last left him three under par.
Jimenez's compatriot Sergio Garcia made a burst up the leaderboard on the front nine when he brilliantly chipped in for eagle at the fifth and followed up with birdies at the sixth and ninth.
A dropped shot on 17 left him four under going into the final day.
"I am definitely hitting the ball better than I have been hitting it which is good to see," said Garcia.
"Obviously a couple of things could have gone a little better and I have wasted some shots every day but it is easy to do in these conditions.
"I am hoping to play well tomorrow and have a good time out there like I did today and hopefully do well."
Defending champion Stewart Cink looks to be out of the running after a 71, although an eagle at the 18th lifted him to one under par.
John Daly, whose opening round of 66 evoked memories of his 1995 triumph at St Andrews, continued his slide with a 74, which left him level par for the championship.
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