Defending champion David Toms sank a 40-foot putt at the final hole to open a two-stroke lead after the third round at the Michelob Championship yesterday.
"I played great today, other than one bad swing," Toms said after hitting every fairway on his way to a four-under-par 67, equal to the day's best round at Kingsmill.
He was at 12-under 201 with one round left, while Mexican Esteban Toledo (68) was second on 203, with Americans Kirk Triplett (69), Neal Lancaster (70) and Chris Riley (71) and Argentinean Jose Coceres (67) three shots behind.
After two days of perfect weather, heavy rain fell for much of the third round, before giving way to a cool breeze which died while the leaders were on the back nine.
"You had to pay attention to what you were doing, because the wind was totally opposite than what we had played all week," said Toms, who won the PGA Championship in August.
"You have to hit the ball solid to keep it on line when it's windy and I was able to do that. I felt good on the range just warming up.
"This is a course where if you play well, you can score well. I am not surprised to be playing well. I have had success here and I have hit a ton of balls the last two weeks, trying to find some rhythm."
Despite his success in the PGA Championship, Toms doesn't think he will intimidate his pursuers.
"There may be a handful of guys who have that presence, but I don't think anybody would be intimidated by me," he said.
Second-placed Toledo won last year's Mexican Open, but a win on the U.S. PGA Tour would be a much bigger achievement.
"I always dream to win on the PGA Tour," he said. "I'd love to win at least once. I don't really care much about two."
He made his move early, with three birdies in the first five holes to get to 10 under, which is where he finished the day.
Riley, one of three halfway leaders, made the best start with two straight birdies, into the teeth of the wind. He was 11 under at that stage, but went downhill thereafter.