Warning: Tiger may bite

''You don't want to know my thoughts,'' Tiger Woods said.

He just had shot a 2-under-par 70 in the third round Saturday, putting him at 4 under and tied for 10th place heading into the final round today.

''You don't want to know my thoughts,'' Woods repeated.

That he said it twice means you probably didn't want to know. Without ear censors, that is.

Standing next to him, you wondered whether his big-toothed smile was propped open with fish hooks -- and whether he would snap your finger off like a boiled shrimp if it got too close to those pearly whites.

Later, as Woods walked up the path toward the clubhouse, agent Mark Steinberg muttered, ''What was your problem?''

''Who the [bleep] knows?'' Woods hissed.

If you haven't noticed Woods has been in a foul mood this week, you haven't been paying attention to the 73rd Masters.

It's not that he has played horribly; it's just that the four-time Masters champion with the surgically repaired left knee has played without consistency, flair or that Tiger-like genius we have come to expect.

Being 4 under after 54 holes isn't a terrible thing at Augusta National. It's just that co-leaders Angel Cabrera and Kenny Perry are 11 under and Chad Campbell is 9 under. Fellows such as Jim Furyk, Rory Sabbatini and Tim Clark are ahead of Woods, too.

NON-SUNNY DISPOSITION

It would be one thing if those guys were little kids or unconscious duffers high on dogwood pixie dust. But Cabrera won the 2007 U.S. Open, Perry has 13 PGA Tour victories, Furyk twice has finished fourth in the Masters, Sabbatini tied for second in 2007 and Clark finished second in 2006.

Every time Woods has had a chance to soar, he has dipped a wing and sputtered.

He especially wanted to get off to a good start Saturday. And what did he do? On No. 1, he clanked a drive into the woods, left his chip short, then three-putted for a double bogey.

''Just put myself right behind the eight ball,'' Tiger said.

But if there was some redemption for him, it came on the 18th. He analyzed his second shot forever, tossed grass into the air, switched clubs twice, then hit long and off the green. He chipped onto the putting surface and sank a seven-foot putt to save par.

That got a mini-fist pump from Woods, whose ill humor has been about the only non-sunny thing here this week.

It is an amazing and tantalizing coincidence that Woods and his anointed chaser, Phil Mickelson, who also is at 4 under, will be in the same twosome for the final round. The two haven't been paired in the final round of a major since the Masters in 2001, when young Eldrick was out of control and won with a 16-under 272. That was also the final victory of his now-named ''Tiger Slam'' -- four major championships in a row, but not in the same calendar year.

'WHAT ARE YOU MADE OF?'

Mickelson has been inconsistent this week, too. But he has settled some in his last 24 holes, shooting 6 under par during that stretch while chasing his third Masters green jacket.

If the 48-year-old Perry wins today, he will become the oldest player to win a major.

''Forty-eight's just a number,'' said Perry, who was born Aug. 10, 1960. ''You need to test yourself. You need to see what's inside yourself.''

That's a coincidental statement, considering there is a billboard on Washington Road, not far from the entrance to Augusta National, of Woods promoting Tag Heuer watches. Next to an image of his face are the shiny guts of an open watch.

''What Are You Made Of?'' the sign asks.

About a half-mile from that is another billboard, this one with a photo of Mickelson swinging a driver, promoting his timepiece of choice, Rolex.

''Phil Always Connects,'' the sign says.

All these statements are interesting, philosophical, even trite.

We'll find out today if they mean anything.

Photo:timothy A. Clary, Getty Images / Tiger Woods hits out of the trees on the eighth hole Saturday at the Masters. ;