Tiger Woods appeared to be closing in on his 13th major title after taking a three-stroke lead late in his third round at the US PGA Championship.
Although not as sharp as he was Friday when he fired a 63, Woods managed three pars to start the round before a birdie at the par-four fourth.
Another string of pars was followed by a birdie at the par-four 12th, where he dropped in a 10-footer. A bogey at the par-three 14th lifted Woods to seven under par and three shots ahead of Woody Austin.
Scott Verplank was in second at four under but dropped to level par after playing the 12th to the 15th holes in four over.
Stephen Ames was at three under with two holes to play and John Senden two under on 18. Ernie Els shot a 69 to move to one under with 2006 US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy at one under with two to play. Boo Weekley came to the 18th hole needing a birdie for a 63 but he left himself a long attempt and three-putted for a bogey and a five-under 65.
However, it was enough to give him the clubhouse lead at level par along with Nathan Green and Kevin Sutherland. Trevor Immelman moved to one over for the championship with a 66.
Garcia would have had a 74 to fall to nine-over but he signed an incorrect scorecard and was disqualified. Weekley put Garcia down for a four on the 17th hole after Garcia had, in fact, bogeyed the hole and the Spaniard did not catch the mistake when he checked his scorecard before signing it. "It's my fault for putting the wrong score in, but it's his fault for not checking," Weekley said. "I just said, 'Sergio, I put a four but in fact you had a five.' He said, 'That just puts the icing on the cake'."
Open Champion Padraig Harrington lies at four over after a 72. He had bogeys on the first, sixth and 10th holes and a birdie on the thirteenth. Darren Clarke was also at one under with three holes to play he finished with a pair of bogeys for a 71. "You work all day to get under par and then finish bogey-bogey," Clarke said. "I was going nicely. I am definitely getting there."
PA