Perry takes over lead with 65

Chris Perry likes his position as the leader after three rounds of the Buick Open. It's how he got there -- coming from six strokes behind -- that makes him realize how much work is left.

Especially because Tiger Woods was among the 17 players within six strokes.

Perry made a 45-foot eagle putt after driving the green on the 322-yard, par-4 14th hole, then made a crucial par save on the 17th and finished with a 7-under 65 today for a one-stroke lead over Rocco Mediate.

"Someone can catch anybody if you get on fire,'' said Perry, who was at 15-under 201. "But if I can shoot 4-, 5- or 6-under, then somebody will have to shoot a low round to do it.''

That might be what it takes.

Hal Sutton, a two-time winner on tour this year, made two critical par saves on the last four holes to salvage a 69. He was at 203, along with Woody Austin, who finally ran out of luck with his putter in a round of 73.

Paul Azinger had a 69 and was at 204. The group at 205 included Masters champion Vijay Singh (68) and Phil Mickelson, who had a 65 as he outplayed Woods in a pairing that drew almost all of the attention at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club.

"That was the strangest final pairing I've ever played in,'' Mediate said. "It was like playing a practice round. I guess Tiger took everyone home with him.''

Woods provided his share of thrills, especially a 2-iron into the 580-yard 16th hole that was hit so long and high that it finished near its ball mark on the green.

"Nobody else could have hit that shot,'' Mickelson said.

Woods had a 5-under 67 and was at 207. His largest comeback on the PGA Tour is five strokes, at Pebble Beach in February, although he trailed by seven strokes with seven holes to play in that tournament and won by two.

Such theatrics are certainly possible in the Buick Open, with ample birdie opportunities for the players on top of their games.

"He's capable of shooting 10- or 11-under,'' Perry said.

Only it's not just Woods. Skip Kendall started with a double bogey and a bogey, but played the final six holes in 7-under for a 67 that left him in the thick of it at 205.

History favors someone from the pack. Only twice in the past 11 years has a 54-hole leader gone on to win the Buick Open.

"I'm going to play like I'm three or four behind,'' Perry said. "A 72 is not going to win.''

Whether anyone will watch Perry try to win his second tour event is doubtful.

Having Woods in the field for the first time since he won the Open last month has helped to nearly double the size of the gallery at Warwick Hills, giving it the feel of a major championship -- and giving everyone else the cold shoulder.

The fact Woods and Mickelson were in the same group made it even more of a circus.

At one point, Woods blocked his tee shot to the right on No. 15, while Sutton pulled his into the same area on the adjacent sixth hole.

Two fans trying to get a better look at Woods nearly stepped on Sutton's ball, and Sutton had to wait five minutes after Woods hit for the crowds to disperse.

"Can you make room for someone else to play?'' Sutton asked them.

Austin said, "It's like he's playing in the last couple of groups, no matter where he is on the golf course.''

Then again, Woods and Mickelson put on quite a show. Had they been playing a best-ball format, their score would have been 60.

Mickelson, who stopped Woods's six-tournament winning streak by winning the Buick Invitational in San Diego in February, birdied the first four holes. Woods birdied four of the next six, and finally caught up with Mickelson on the 14th when he drove the green on the 322-yard hole and two-putted for birdie.

Woods, however, took his second double bogey of the tournament when he missed the fairway right on No. 15, hit into the bunker, hit long and three-putted.

"Other than that, it was a great hole,'' he said.

Still, he appears to be rounding into form for the PGA Championship next week, where he will try to become the first player since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win three majors in the same year. And he might not be out of the Buick Open.

"Each day I've gotten better. That's what you want to do,'' Woods said.

Mickelson would have preferred a better score than 65. His only birdies on the back nine came on par 5s, and he failed to take advantage on the par 4s he can reach.

"I'm still quite a ways back,'' Mickelson said. "I at least gave me that chance.''

Mickelson was six behind going into the final round at Colonial in May and won with a 63. He was the equivalent of four birdies behind at The International last week and had a 65 to nearly pull off another comeback.

Perhaps another one awaits Sunday -- for him, Sutton, or maybe even Woods.

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