SHANGHAI, China - Tiger Woods is working his charm in a new market.

Woods, playing his first official stroke-play event in China, shot a 5-under-par 67 Saturday and enters the final round of the HSBC Champions tournament one stroke behind leader David Howell of England.

Woods is tied for second at 15-under 201 with Nick O'Hern, who had a 67 for the third consecutive round. Howell, who shared the lead with Australia's Nick Dougherty after the second round, missed a birdie putt on the last hole and settled for a 68.

More than 1,000 people tracked Woods' group around the Sheshan International Golf Club course, with the crowd at least doubling at some holes. The new $5 million tournament is the richest in Asia, and Woods wants to leave his imprint.

“Considering this is the biggest golfing event they've ever had, I think it would be very special to have your name associated with that,” he said.

Woods has taken time this weekend to educate fans and photographers. Golf in China was nearly nonexistent 20 years ago, but the country hosted six European tour events in 2005. With the sudden rise has come confusion about golf etiquette - such as ringing cell phones and taking photos on backswings.

At the first hole, Woods loosened the grip on his driver, turned and asked the gallery to “hold the cameras.” He interceded when a woman started moving while playing partner Kenneth Ferrie was lining up a crucial putt on No. 4. Woods called out courteously: “Ma'am, hold still - please!”

His patience ran out on the 12th tee, where he glared at a photographer after having to check his swing. The camera was taken by a security guard, and Woods went on to birdie the hole.

Woods hasn't been shy about offering tips to the gallery, if suggestions from his caddy or the marshals go unheeded.

“There are a lot of distractions out there, certainly,” he said. “My playing partners and I have to play through that. You've got to block it out as much as you can.”

Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant shot a 68 and was at 204, one in front of U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell, Thomas Bjorn and Dougherty. Vijay Singh, ranked No. 2 in the world, had a 70 and was six strokes behind the leader.

Woods had four birdies, a bogey and an eagle on his first 14 holes, including a 25-foot putt for a 3 at the par-5 14th. But he bogeyed the next hole after driving into the rough, then hitting into a greenside bunker and missing a 6-foot par putt.

“It's not exactly easy to make the short ones out here this week,” Woods said. “The trick is not to leave yourself too many of them. For the most part, I've been able to do that.”

Howell had five birdies and a bogey and looked forward to battling Woods though not necessarily the noisy galleries.

“Chaos surrounds him out there. I had it for five minutes at the end today and I was frustrated - he probably deals with that every day,” Howell said.

“It's a great opportunity for me to take on the world's best player, with a one-stroke lead, and win a massive tournament.”