Woods stands on cusp of major victory

Tiger Woods extended his lead at the US PGA Championship to three strokes over Canadian Stephen Ames at Southern Hills on Saturday, taking dead aim on claiming his 13th major title.

Woods, who held a two-shot overnight advantage, posted a one-under-par 69 for a seven-under-par 203 total on another sweltering day in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

'I accomplished my goal, which was to shoot under par and increase my lead,' said holder Woods, who is hungry for his first major victory of the season.

'I've always said in order to have a great year you have to win a major championship. The majors are where it's all at and hopefully I can get it done tomorrow.'

Woods, who won last year's US PGA at Medinah by five shots, is 12-for-12 winning major championships when entering the final round with the lead.

The world number one registered two birdies against one bogey as he played a solid round, content to watch his rivals slide back and struggle to stay in the hunt.

The top five players on the leaderboard all posted 69s.

Ames rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt on the difficult 18th hole to move into second place at four-under 206, one stroke better than American Woody Austin, who bogeyed the last.

Australian John Senden was in fourth place at two-under-par 208, with three-times major winner Ernie Els of South Africa next at 209 as only five players finished 54 holes under par.

The Irish charge fell disappointingly away as Dubliner Paul McGinley posted a four-over-par 74 to drop from joint ninth to 44th on six-over.

A double bogey at the par four second was followed by further bogeys at 9, 14 and 15 and the Ryder Cup star will have much to do to make a top 20 finish.

Open winner Padraig Harrington and Dungannon's Darren Clarke are tied on four-over 214 after carding a 72 and 71 respectively.

Local favourite Scott Verplank, playing alongside Woods, double-bogeyed the par-four 12th as Woods made birdie, starting a plunge that put him seven shots behind after a four-over 74.

In contrast to Friday's exhilarating 63 that tied the lowest round ever shot in a major championship, Woods played a workmanlike 18 holes on Saturday.

The 31-year-old American birdied the fourth and 12th holes and recorded his only bogey at the 223-yard par-three 14th when he needed two putts after blasting out of a greenside bunker.

Earlier, Boo Weekley showed low scores were possible when he arrived at the 18th needing a birdie to match Woods' impressive 63.

The 34-year-old American three-putted for a bogey, but the round lifted Weekley, who just made the cut at five-over 145, into a tie for sixth at even-par 210.

Australian Nathan Green reached five-under for the round when he eagled the par-five 13th, finishing with a 67 for 210, a total also shared by compatriot Adam Scott, KJ Choi of South Korea, and Americans Kevin Sutherland and Arron Oberholser. Trevor Immelman of South Africa fired a 66 for 211.

Making a different impression was Sergio Garcia, who was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard.

The 27-year-old Spaniard, who lost a play-off to Harrington at last month's British Open, recorded a par four at the 17th when he had bogeyed the hole.

Austin, like the other top three pursuers of Woods, is seeking his first major victory and believes an aggressive approach will be necessary.

'He's not going to go backwards,' Austin, 43, said. 'So we have to go forward.'

Senden, 36, said: 'I know Tiger Woods has got a nice lead but anything can happen tomorrow.'

Said Ames: 'I'm happy to be playing in the last group of a major. It should be awesome.'

Woods, who won last week's WGC-Bridgestone by eight shots, may draw added incentive in having Ames in the final pairing.

The 43-year-old Canadian two years ago lit a fire under Woods before their encounter at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship when he said the American was 'beatable' the way he was driving the ball.

Woods thrashed him 9&8, and when asked later for his reaction to Ames's comment, Woods said: '9&8.'