Tiger Woods maintained his three-shot lead at the Tour Championship after resisting a glut of low scoring spearheaded by US Masters champion Zach Johnson with a dazzling 10-under-par 60.

Woods, hunting a seventh PGA Tour title this year and inaugural FedExCup honours, fired a seven-birdie 64 in the third round at a sun-drenched East Lake Golf Club.

That left the world number one at 19-under 191, three ahead of fellow American Mark Calcavecchia who eagled the 15th on his way to a sparkling 63.

Spaniard Sergio Garcia birdied two of the last four holes for a 64 to finish on 14-under, one ahead of Johnson in the fourth and final event of the FedExCup playoff series.

Padraig Harrington is nine shots back on 10-under.

"If you made a bunch of pars you were going to get run over, so it was nice to make some birdies and maintain the same sized lead I had starting out the day," Woods told reporters after posting his lowest 54-hole total on the PGA Tour.

"I can't remember too many golf courses that have been easier than this one," he added, referring to East Lake's soft and receptive greens.

"I prefer not to play it like this. I prefer golf courses where you shoot something in the 60s you've earned it and you are going to move up the board."

Although perfectly poised to claim the $10 million bonus as the first FedExCup champion, Woods is more concerned with winning his 61st PGA Tour title.

"You know if you win golf tournaments, period, it takes care of everything else," said the 31-year-old American, who has triumphed 40 times out of 43 on the PGA Tour when holding at least a share of the 54-hole lead.

"I'm in a position to get another 'W' (win). If I lose the tournament and win the FedExCup, I don't think I'm going to be too happy really."