Steve Stricker, Retief Goosen, and Sean O'Hair are more than two hours away from beginning their final rounds at the Deutsche Bank Championship, while Tiger Woods has been on the course for nearly an hour. He began the final day tied for 30th, nine shots behind.

It's unusual -- at least this season -- for Woods to not be in contention in the final round. But for the threesome tied for the lead, not having Woods in the rearview mirror suits them just fine.

"It's always nice if you're up around the lead that he's not there," Stricker said yesterday, after his third-round 65. "Yet it's good for the tournament when he's there. It's good for TV when he's up there. But as a player, it's nice that if you're up around the lead, that he's not."

Said Goosen: "The players are happy that he's not up top of the leaderboard. The sponsors are unhappy that he's not on top of the leaderboard. He's the guy that brings in the ratings for us and the crowds."