Tiger Woods (Stats | Bio) (Stats | Bio) says he's close to finding the form that has won him eight major championships since 1997.

That's his story, and he's sticking to it - despite evidence to the contrary.

Needing a good round to get back into contention for his fourth green jacket, Woods stumbled to 3-over-par 75 on Saturday and is nine shots behind co-leaders Phil Mickelson (Stats | Bio) (Stats | Bio) and Chris DiMarco (Stats | Bio) entering today's final round of the Masters Tournament.

Given the recent travails with his swing, which has produced un-Woodslike shots from his driver and irons, the three-time Masters champion seems to be taking the Bob Uecker approach to describing his problems.

Just a bit outside. Or in Tiger-speak: "I'm just a little off."

How far off Woods is has been a major topic of debate heading into the 68th Masters. After splitting with his longtime swing coach Butch Harmon after 2002, last year Woods failed to win a major for the first time since 1998, and was only in contention in one, the British Open.

His driving statistics and scoring average reflect the downturn his game has taken. Woods ranks 119th in driving accuracy and 62nd in greens hit in regulation, which is reflected in his scoring average of 70.23, his highest since joining the tour and a statistic he has dominated since 1999.

In his dominant year of 2000, Woods ranked 54th in driving accuracy and first in greens hit in regulation.

But he still thinks his game is close to coming together and said Saturday's score is not truly representative of how he played in the third round.

"I kept saying to Jay (Haas) today, and Jay saw it today, I kept missing every knob by, like, a yard," Woods said. "Like, for instance, I hit a great shot into No. 8, perfect if I was on the right-hand side of the green. I have no shot. Or I miss the ridge on seven by two feet from rolling back all the way down to the flag. Little things like that.

"I'm not converting on opportunities I do give myself and then I'm just a little bit off, hence I'm missing the slopes. Out here if you're just a fraction off, you're going to pay the price for it."

Woods paid a big price for his wildness on the front nine, where he shot 2-over par. He compounded things with a double bogey on the par-5 13th in which he made "a debacle" of the hole.

Haas said his playing partner Saturday struggled with his driver most of the day, but added that Woods can't be counted out in today's final round.

"He's not far off," Haas said. "He's one swing away from shooting a 65."

Woods doesn't disagree, continuing to stick to his story.

"I feel like I'm very close to getting it done," he said. "I played beautifully coming home today. I just need to do that for all 18 holes."

Reach Mike Wynn at (706) 823-3218 or mike.wynn@augustachronicle.com.