Ted Purdy takes narrow advantage

American Ted Purdy took advantage of ideal early conditions by firing birdies on his first four holes to grab a two-shot third round lead at the Las Vegas championships on Saturday.

Purdy, who claimed his first PGA Tour win in May at the Byron Nelson, got off to a blistering start with six birdies on his outward nine to reach the turn at six-under 30 before gusting desert winds whipped across the TPC at Summerlin layout.

Despite worsening conditions, Purdy battled through his back nine with little trouble, mixing a pair of birdies with a single bogey for a seven-under 65 and three-day total of 18-under 197.

"The wind came up after about seven holes and I was lucky to be four or five under at that point," said Purdy.

"It was a big adjustment from no wind. You go from tons of birdies to just holding on.

"That's the great thing about golf, all you can control is what you're doing. You can't worry about the other guy.

"Tomorrow, I'll go out and just play each shot."

Lurking two shots back at 16-under 199 are compatriots Charles Howell III (67), Harrison Frazar (68) and Steve Lowery, who returned the lowest round of the day with an eight-under 64.

Lowery, 125th on the PGA Tour money list and fighting to finish among the top 125 to retain his card, put himself in contention for the needed big payday after mixing six birdies, two eagles and a pair of bogeys.

Sitting one shot further adrift are two more Americans, Kevin Stadler (70) and Wes Short Jr (66).

Briny Baird, who led for the first two rounds and began the day with a two-shot cushion, was among the last group to tee off and spent most of his round battling unsuccessfully with the ferocious wind.

Carding just two bogeys in his two previous rounds, Baird matched that in his first seven holes but ran into major trouble at the par four 12th with a quadruple bogey on his way to a six-over 78 as dropped into a tie for 43rd at nine-under 206.

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