Three weeks before the biggest tournament of his life, Scott Verplank carded a four-under-par 66 for a one-shot lead over Dicky Pride and Paul Gow after three rounds of the Canadian Open. Defending champion Tiger Woods is 10 shots back as he seeks his second straight title and sixth of the season. He followed Friday's 73 with a 69 and is tied for 29th.
Three weeks ago, Verplank was named as a captain's pick by Curtis Strange for the United States Ryder Cup team, for the clash with Europe at The Belfry. Verplank is looking good as he prepares for his first Ryder Cup. After opening the tournament with a 70, he shot a Royal Montreal course record 63 on Friday.
Verplank had five birdies and a bogey in the third round en route to a 54-hole scoring record of 11-under 199 at Royal Montreal. In fact, 13 players broke the course's old 54-hole record of six-under 204. Verplank began the round two shots back before trading a birdie and bogey over the first two holes. But he sank a 15-foot putt at the third and a 25-footer at the fifth to get within a shot of the lead.
After four straight pars to close the front nine, he made a six-footer for birdie at the 10th and two-putted from 15 feet at the par-five 13th. Verplank finished with five consecutive pars, including one at the 18th, where he made a three-footer to help himself take sole possession of the lead entering the final round.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
