Stuart Appleby extends lead

Stuart Appleby claims he hasn't been quite firing on all cylinders at the $5.4 million Mercedes Championship. He still stands on the verge of a rare "threepeat."

Appleby, seeking to become just the second player to win the PGA Tour's season opener three consecutive years, took another step in the right direction when he established a two-shot lead after Saturday's third round.

Handling the demanding conditions with ease, Appleby plotted his way to an impressive 3-under-par 70, matching the day's best score in winds that gusted to more than 30 miles per hour on the Kapalua Plantation course.

"I left two or three shots out there, missed too many opportunities for birdies, but overall I'm happy with where I am," said Appleby, who was at 6-under 213 with one round left.

U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell putted superbly to shoot 71 and stand alone in second place at 4-under 215.

Jim Furyk, who owns a home near the 18th green, was alone at 216 after a 72, with Lucas Glover (70) another shot back after a 70 that included a hole-in-one at the par-3 eighth.

Appleby won the past two years in much easier conditions but seems at home here no matter what the weather. With his low, penetrating ball flight, he perhaps is more suited to foul weather than fair.

After a bogey at the par-3 second, Appleby was not in serious danger of dropping another shot until the par-4 17th, where he sent his first putt 12 feet beyond the hole before sinking the comeback attempt.

Gene Littler (1955-57) is the only player to have won this event - formerly known as the Tournament of Champions- three years in a row. Appleby was trying not to think about what it would mean to join him.

"I hope I'm not thinking about that (Sunday)," he said. "I believe my best is enough to finish first and be a 'threepeater.' I'll be really feeding on the vibe I've had for the last nearly three years.

"I think my play, my putting was better the last two years but these are the type of conditions that don't allow you to play golf like that."

Campbell, meanwhile, sank four par-saving putts from 10 feet or longer, making amends for some wayward approach shots.

Although Campbell and Appleby are not compatriots, they both come from the southern Pacific Rim, where nearly everyone lives near the coast, which may explain their positions atop the leaderboard.

"We're used to these conditions," Campbell said. "To hit a 4-iron 130 yards is sometimes normal for us. It's all about grinding, grinding, grinding. Every single shot today was manufactured."

Campbell also praised Appleby, saying, "Every part of his game is very sound, very sharp. His mind is there as well. He will be tough to beat (Sunday), but I believe I've got the tools to beat him. I"m looking forward to tomorow as a nice little challenge."

Furyk should not be forgotten, however. He's simply too good and too consistent to fade away.

"I am more comfortable hitting the ball low than I am hitting it high," he said, explaining his liking for the conditions. "You have to be really creative. You can't hit your normal shots out there."

It perhaps is no coincidence that the three front-runners are all comfortable hitting the ball low and all played competitively well into December, having just three weeks off.

"A lot of guys haven't been playing a lot," said Furyk.

"I never had any time to get any rust on me," Appleby said. "Within two weeks I was back on the range."

January 8, 2006