Tiger vomits on course, shoots 69

Tiger Woods was visibly suffering with bouts of sickness during his third round in Florida.

• Tiger Woods hit by vomiting fever at Florida comeback


• "I've been throwing up for hours," explained the 14-time major winner


• Despite illness, Woods cards his best score of 69 at his comeback event


• American Jordan Spieth holds seven-shot lead in Hero Challenge going into final day

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(CNN) -- Tiger Woods' return to golf went from a stinker to a sickener, Saturday.

The 14-time major winner was seen doubled over and heaving into a towel at regular intervals during the third round of his comeback event, the Hero World Challenge.

"I've been throwing up for hours," Woods told reporters at Florida's Isleworth Golf and Country Club.

"I wasn't doing too good at the beginning but I thought I could hang in there. The fever just broke. As the round went on I was feeling better."

Despite his feverish play, Woods carded his best score of the event so far, firing a three-under-par 69 compared to 77 and 70 in his previous rounds.

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"I didn't have nausea and vomiting before," Woods said, explaining his poor form in the opening rounds.

"I just didn't have the explosiveness. I was pretty slow."

Despite carding six birdies during the third round, Woods remains last in the 18-player event going into the final day.

At the top of the leaderboard, American Jordan Spieth shot a nine-under-par 63 to race into a seven-shot lead over compatriot Keegan Bradley.

Woods, who has struggled with a back injury for much of the year, is making his first competitive outing since missing the cut at the U.S.PGA Championship in August.

The attention surrounding Woods' return has been heightened after he announced at the end of last month that he had hired Chris Como as his new swing "consultant."

Como replaces coach Sean Foley, who parted ways with Woods in August after a four-year partnership that yielded eight victories but crucially no major titles.

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