Singh takes narrow lead into final day

Vijay Singh took a one-shot lead in the U.S. PGA Championship third round on Saturday after his playing partner Justin Leonard stumbled with a bogey at the last.

Fijian Singh, chasing his first major title since the 2000 U.S. Masters, fired a three-under-par 69 to finish on 12-under 204 at a sun-drenched Whistling Straits.

American Leonard, co-leader with Singh overnight, had to settle for a 70 and second place after finding a greenside bunker with his approach at the 500-yard 18th.

"It was a lot harder than it looked today, and I didn't play as well as yesterday," said Singh, the hottest player in the game over the last 13 months with six victories on the U.S. PGA Tour.

"Thank God for that little putter of mine, it kept me in play. I guess that's what it takes," he told reporters.

The 41-year-old switched back to a conventional blade from a belly putter two weeks ago, going on to win the Buick Open in his next start.

U.S. Masters champion Phil Mickelson, a top-three finisher in the first three majors of the year, equalled the low round of the day with a sparkling five-under 67, tying for third at eight-under 208.

Level with Mickelson were fellow American Chris Riley (69), South African Ernie Els (72), Canada's Stephen Ames (69) and Briton Darren Clarke (72).

Another American, Chris DiMarco, was alone in eighth at seven under after returning a 71.

With scoring conditions near perfect on a third successive day of relative calm on the shores of Lake Michigan, Singh and Leonard bounced back from early bogeys to stay in the hunt for the final major of the year.

Singh, the 1998 champion at Sahalee, reeled off birdies on six, 10, 13 and 16 while 1997 British Open winner Leonard picked up shots on five, six, 10, 12 and 16.

The pair were on track to safely negotiate the tough four finishing holes before Leonard's blemish at the last put Singh clear on what is traditionally known as 'moving day' in major championships.

"Those last four did play very difficult today," said Leonard. "On 18, I almost hit a great shot out of the bunker, but it came up short. I then had a nice two-putt from 35 feet.

"I felt I played solid today and tomorrow is going to be a fun day. I'm going head-to-head with one of the best players in the world, if not the best player in the world."

At one point, it seemed Mickelson would finish closer to the lead but the world number four failed to sustain a storming start after the turn.

"It was a good round," said the lefthander. "I would have taken five under, but I was hoping for seven (under) at the start of the day.

"At least I have a chance. I could go play a solid round tomorrow. I know I could shoot quite a few under par on this golf course. If I can do that, I should have a good opportunity."

Mickelson, boosted by a red-hot putter, birdied five of the first nine holes to close to within a stroke of the early lead.

He picked up shots at the first, second and fourth before holing a monster putt of 50 feet from off the edge of the green to save par at the 598-yard fifth and stay at six under.

The 34-year-old, who made a long-awaited major breakthrough at the U.S. Masters in April, then sank a 50-footer for birdie at the sixth and another followed at the ninth, where he holed out from 10 feet to reach the turn in five-under 31.

Mickelson dropped his only shot of the round at the par-three 12th before getting back to eight under with another birdie at the par-five 16th.

Among the day's early starters, world number one Tiger Woods failed to make the most of a red-hot opening nine. He had to settle for a three-under 69 and a 54-hole total of three-under 213, nine strokes off the pace in a tie for 25th.

Woods, desperate to make up ground on the leaders after battling to make the halfway cut by a shot, birdied four of the first nine holes to get to three under.

But the 28-year-old American was unable to cash in on good scoring conditions on the back nine, offsetting a birdie on 11 with his second bogey of the day at the par-three 12th.

"I felt good this morning and got off to a great start but didn't quite keep it up," said Woods. "I just didn't make enough birdies on the back nine.

"I knew if I could get three or four more on the back nine, I would be right back where I needed to be."

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page