PEBBLE BEACH - RETIEF Goosen's bid for a first PGA Tour victory in more than three years unravelled when he battled to a two-over-par 74 at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on Saturday.

Struggling with his swing in blustery conditions for the third round, overnight leader Goosen dropped back into third place at 10-under 206, five strokes off the pace.

'It was a terrible round of golf,' the bespectacled South African told reporters after registering four bogeys and just two birdies on the tough Spyglass Hill layout.

'I played poorly tee to green. I was in the rough most of the time and in bunkers, so then you struggle to hit it close.

'Everything was out of sorts,' added Goosen, who won last month's Africa Open in his homeland.

'My timing of my golf swing was bad. I kept hitting it left and right, which is not good, and I missed a lot of greens today.

'I have played myself a little bit out of the tournament now and I'm going to need a very low round tomorrow to have a chance of catching the leader.'

Difficult day
Winless on the PGA Tour since the 2005 International, double US Open champion Goosen ended a difficult day five shots behind pacesetting American Dustin Johnson.

Poor weather is forecast for Sunday's final round on the Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of three venues used this week, and the South African hopes to take advantage.

'That's probably what I need, tough conditions,' said Goosen, who held a two-stroke lead going into the third round.

'If I can get a good round in tomorrow, it's about the only chance I've got of catching the leader now. I think anything in the sixties tomorrow if it's bad (weather-wise) will be good.' Goosen, who turned 40 earlier this month, was eager to return to the Pebble Beach layout, where he fired a best-of-the-week 64 on Friday.

'I'm glad I don't have to play Spyglass again,' he said.

'At least Pebble, after a good round yesterday, I might feel a little bit more comfortable on it than I did today.

'But I need to go to the range this afternoon and try and find something to take me out to the course tomorrow.' -- REUTERS