A blistering front nine from Kenny Perry helped the veteran American surge into the lead at the Tour Championship, two ahead of overnight leader Tiger Woods five in front of Ireland’s Pádraig Harrington both hit a roadblock in Georgia.

With play brought forward by more than three hours in a bid to beat heavy rain forecast later in the day, 49-year-old Perry also opened his third round at East Lake in a hurry.

Perry sank birdies on the first four holes at the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup finale.

Perry had started the day at two under par, three shots behind Woods, and though a bogey at the par-three sixth checked his progress, he rebounded with another birdie at the seventh to make the turn in 31.

That gave him a share of the lead with Woods and Harrington, who were experiencing rollercoaster rounds early in their day.

FedEx Cup standings leader Woods began with a one-shot lead over Harrington and first-round leader Sean O’Hair.

Paired once more with the Irish three-time major winner, Woods saw his lead disappear at the first hole as Harrington birdied, but then edged back in front with a birdie of his own at the par-three second.

The nip and tuck continued as Harrington birdied the third, only to post back-to-back bogey fives at the fourth and fifth.

Then Woods wobbled, bogeying the seventh and 10th as Harrington birdied the eighth, but the world number one - knowing a victory on Sunday would guarantee him the FedEx Cup title and a €6.8million bonus - got back to level for the day and five under for the tournament with a birdie at the 11th.

Their private duel was being eclipsed, however, as Perry birdied the 12th and 15th to move into a three-shot lead over Woods and O’Hair at eight-under-par, with Harrington falling back into a tie for third at four under following a bogey at the 12th.

Woods closed the gap on Perry at the 15th but the Dubliner fell further thanks to another dropped shot at the 17th and finished with a one-over-par 71.

O’Hair finished level for the day and remained on four under.