Els tops leaderboard into final day

South African Ernie Els took advantage of calm conditions to grab a two-shot lead over Fred Couples, KJ Choi and Justin Rose after the third round of the $5.25 million Memorial Tournament on Saturday.

Els fired a flawless, six-under-par 66 to finish 12-under on 204. American Couples (68), Choi of South Korea (68) and Britain's Rose (69) were tied for second place on 206.

World number one Tiger Woods recorded one of his best rounds of the year, a five-under 67 putting him on 207 along with Stephen Ames (70) of Trinidad and Tobago.

Defending champion Kenny Perry shot a 66 to move into a tie for seventh place on 210 with British Open champion Ben Curtis (73). Jay Haas, 50, and South African Retief Goosen were seven shots off the lead on 211.

Tournament host Jack Nicklaus carded a five-over 77 and was back in 70th position.

World number three Els is back on the PGA Tour, after spending time in Europe, looking to peak for the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in two weeks.

Playing steady golf and producing a bit of magic when needed, he brought a difficult Muirfield Village course to its knees. Not even a deflection off a TV cameraman's tripod which pushed his ball into the rough at the 15th hole could put off Els.

A pivotal point in the round came at the par-five 11th. Els had missed makeable birdie putts on three of the previous four holes while Couples and Woods were charging up the leaderboard.

The tall South African pulled his drive left and over the creek that borders the fairway. After chipping out on to the fairway, Els drilled a two-iron 205 yards to within 18 feet of the cup and sank his putt for a birdie four.

"Freddie was coming on then, and I saw Tiger was coming on then, and the whole field was kind of scoring at that stage and I was kind of stalling," Els told reporters. "It was getting to me a little bit."

Els has won nine of the 13 times he has led or shared the lead after 54 holes. The last three occasions he has been in front after three rounds, in the Genuity Championship and British Open of 2002 and the 2003 Mercedes Championship, he went on to triumph.

"All in all, you know, it was a good day," he said. "I've got a two-shot lead...but it doesn't mean much.

"I mean, it means that I'm leading the tournament. It means that I'm playing well, doing something right, but definitely I'd rather be leading after tomorrow."

Els will be paired with Couples again on Sunday, and Woods will be two groups ahead.

"Tiger is Tiger," Els said. "He may not be hitting the ball as solid as four or five years ago, but his mind, the way he approaches the game, he gives it 110 percent.

"He's going to be right there tomorrow. You know, that's kind of a given."

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