Sunday was easily the best round of the week for Tiger Woods, who closed with a 6-under 66 that seems to have signaled another step closer to where Woods ultimately wants to get to.

“I hit a lot of good golf shots and when I did miss-hit one, I knew what the fix was right away, boom and I got right back on my run of hitting good shots again,” Woods said. “That feels good.”

So did a round that included seven birdies, just one bogey and plenty of up-and-downs that had been missing from Woods’ game.

Woods also took just 25 putts — in part because of a much-improved short game that is undergoing the same transformation his full swing is.

”Those are key, to be able to keep the momentum in the rounds going,” said Woods, who didn’t miss a putt from inside 10 feet after missing nine from inside 10 feet the last two rounds combined.

”It’s definitely getting better, there’s no doubt. I’m putting the pieces together. Everything is kind of shaping up and heading the right direction, which is good, and peaking right at the right time, right for Tavistock Cup (laughing).”

All kidding aside, Woods feels like his game is rounding into form in time for the Masters, where he finished fourth a year ago. It also helps his confidence tremendously, Woods admitted, to have the kind of round he did on Sunday.

“I had not played a round like this,” Woods said. “I’ve played stretches like this in a round but not for an entire round.”

As for his switch from his Scotty Cameron putter to the Nike Method putter, which he used a few times last year and put in the bag for the weekend here, Woods said it was because the ball comes off the face hotter, which is something he needs for slower, grainy greens.

He may continue to use it, too, if they can shave down the grooves on the face so the ball doesn’t come off as fast for a place like Augusta National.

Speaking of the Masters, when asked if he likes his chances there this year, Woods simply smiled and said, “Oh, yeah. Mm-hmm.”