Love takes narrow advantage

After going more than two years without a victory, Davis Love III is in position for his second in less than two months.

Love would like to start a big run, but is confident regardless of what happens Sunday, when he tees off with a one-stroke lead in the final round of the Honda Classic.

"I'm hitting it good and I'm feeling good," said Love, who won at Pebble Beach last month. "Winning is very important, but feeling good and being in there is what I want to do all year long.

"It's nice to be excited and playing aggressively and feeling good."

Love, widely considered the top player in the field, moved atop the leaderboard for the first time in the third round.

The only player in the tournament among the top 10 in the world was 7-under through the final 11 holes and wound up with a second straight 65. He is 20 under at 196.

Justin Leonard birdied the final six holes to shoot an 8-under 64 and will join Love and short-game specialist Chris Riley in the final group.

It could be shootout, because 13 players are within four strokes of the lead.

"There really isn't much of a lead here," Love said.

Leonard is one shot back, Riley two. Billy Mayfair, Woody Austin, Carlos Franco, Jerry Kelly, Tom Byrum and Notah Begay III are 17 under.

Brett Quigley, Chad Campbell, Mark O'Meara, Shaun Micheel and Jeff Brehaut are another shot behind.

"Davis Love and Justin Leonard, they're Hall of Famers in my book, so I think they will be the guys to beat," Riley said. "They have been there a lot. I haven't been there as much as them.

"I'll be an underdog, but that's why people come out to watch - to see if someone like me can beat those guys."

World No. 7 Love has been the most consistent player through three rounds at the Honda - shooting 66-65-65 - and has been one of the steadiest on tour this season.

He hasn't missed a cut, winning at Pebble Beach, advancing to the second round of the Match Play Championship and posting two 12th-place finishes, including last week at Doral.

Before his victory at Pebble Beach, Love had been without a win in 44 official events over two years while playing a slightly reduced schedule because of neck and back problems. Before that, he had gone 62 events and 34 months between victories.

This season, he is fourth on the money list with earnings of more than $1.17 million in five events. His worst finish this season is a tie for 49th in the Nissan Open.

"I think Davis is one of the top five players in the world," Mayfair said. "When he gets on a roll and starts putting good, he's pretty hard to beat.

"He has a great short game, but I think he's just a great ball-striker. He drives it a long way, he hits long, high iron shots all the time. I think he's just an all-around great player."

Love has 15 career wins on tour, but only two in the last five years. He hasn't won more than three times in any season despite finishing in the top 10 on the money list in eight of the last 12 years.

"Why hasn't he won more?" Mayfair said. "Sometimes you've just got to be in the right spot at the right time to win more than he has."

Love had a somewhat slow start Saturday, especially on the relatively short and birdie-friendly Sunset Course at The Country Club at Mirasol. He made par on the first seven holes - scores that have sent players toppling down the leaderboard this week.

"If you don't make birdies out there, you're going to be going the other way," Riley said. "Bogeys will kill you."

Love got on a roll at the par-3 No. 8, making an 11-foot putt for birdie. Then he eagled the par-5 ninth after hitting his second shot to 6 feet from 240 yards out. He added birdies on Nos. 10, 12, 15 and 17 on the back 9 to take the outright lead.

"It's been just a goal to get back healthy and playing good, and I'm well on my way, so I'm real pleased with it," Love said. "You just keep doing the little things that I'm doing to get better physically and with my golf game."

Divots: Final round tee times were moved up and players were grouped in threesomes in hopes of avoiding possible afternoon thunderstorms Sunday. ... Love has entered the final round with the lead or a share of the lead 21 times during his 18-year career, and has won nine of those tournaments. ... Love and Leonard are two of six former major winners left in the Honda Classic field. ... Kenichi Kuboya and Brian Bateman withdrew Saturday before the third round. Dean Wilson also withdrew during the round with a back injury.

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