Memorial tournament:Australia's Rod Pampling made a fine birdie at the final hole to jump to a three-shot lead after the third round of the Memorial tournament on Saturday.

He struck a splendid 9-iron from a fairway bunker, before sinking a three-footer to post a 4-under-par 68 in ideal scoring conditions at Muirfield Village.

Pampling was at 15-under 201, while fellow Australian Adam Scott (72) bogeyed the last to fall back into a tie for second with American Sean O'Hair (69) at 12-under.

Americans Will MacKenzie (65) and Stewart Cink (65) shared the low round of the day to vault into contention, four shots off the pace alongside Australian Aaron Baddeley (71).

"Finishing with four birdies on the back nine really gave me a lot of confidence for tomorrow," said Pampling, who was on the right end of a two-shot swing with Scott at the last.

"I guess it's just the luck of the draw," Pampling said. "We both hit shots exactly the same off the tee (but) I had a nice flat lie in the bunker and Adam had a pretty gnarly lie (in the rough).

"Thankfully it went my way and I hit a great shot out. Adam couldn't do a lot with what he had."

Pampling stands on the verge of a special double. He won last year's Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, and now has a chance to add Jack Nicklaus's tournament to his resume.

And he is the man to beat, thanks to his closing birdie: "I know I'm playing good, and the putting was nice again today," he said.

"If I can get off to a nice start tomorrow, it puts more pressure on those guys, because they have to make birdies, whereas if there's a tough pin, I don't have to be as aggressive."

Halfway leader Scott was still tied for the lead after 13 holes, but that was before Pampling picked up three birdies in the final five holes.

Tiger Woods was out of contention, 11 shots behind after a 2-under 70.
   
Play was delayed for two hours, 30 minutes due to lightning in the area, shortly before the leaders teed off.

A dubious forecast for Sunday prompted officials to bring forward the tee times in an effort to beat the expected bad weather.