Vijay Singh strengthened his bid for a first PGA Tour money list title in the US Tour Championship in Houston today.
Only a victory for nearest challenger Tiger Woods can deny 40-year-old Singh the Arnold Palmer award on Sunday. Even then, the Fijian would still come out on top if he finished in a three-way tie for third place or better.
Irishman Darren Clarke continued his recovery from a first-round 74. Clarke, whose place in the 31-man field was confirmed only at 10pm on Sunday, carded a second-round 68 alongside Singh yesterday and picked up birdies at the fifth, sixth and 13th to improve to four under par.
Meanwhile, with Woods continuing to languish well off the pace in the third round at Champions Golf Club, Singh climbed up the leaderboard to within sight of that vital top three place.
Woods began the day one shot ahead of Singh but bogeyed the first hole and dropped another shot at the eighth, birdies at the sixth and ninth taking him to the turn in 36. Four pars then followed and left the world number one two under par and nine off the lead.
In contrast Singh picked up shots at the third, eighth and ninth and made it three in a row at the 10th. The two-time major winner then collected his fifth birdie by two-putting the par five 13th to improve to six under and a share of sixth place.
Overnight leader Charles Howell was still out in front courtesy of three in an outward half of 33, but at 11 under he was only one ahead of compatriot Chad Campbell. Campbell bogeyed the eighth but then played the next four holes in five under par, holing from 10 feet for eagle on the ninth and then chipping in on the 10th for the first of three straight birdies.
Former European number one Retief Goosen was a shot further back in third place after also going to the turn in 33.