(CNN) -- Tiger Woods stormed back into contention at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach with a third round 66, leaving him in third place, five shots behind new leader, American Dustin Johnson.
Woods looked set to continue his lackluster form of the first two days, opening his third round with consecutive bogeys at the 2nd and 3rd holes.
But the three-time U.S. Open winner responded like the Woods of old and immediately repaired the damage with three straight birdies.
Better was to follow as a faultless back nine, which included five more birdies, saw Woods come home in 31 strokes.
He left his best until last with birdies at the 16th and 17th holes, before producing a stunning second shot at the 18th to set up a simple two-putt birdie.
With 260 yards to the flag and a cypress tree in his way, Woods carved a 3-wood around the branches to 15 feet from the flag to round off one of his best playing days since returning from a five month lay off in April.
