Little-known Shaun Micheel and Chad Campbell share the lead going into the final round of the United States PGA at Oak Hill in Rochester, New York.
Micheel, two ahead overnight, resumed with a bogey and many might have expected him to continue a downward slide. Instead, however, he went four clear.
A hat-trick of birdies from the seventh opened up a three-stroke gap on the chasing pack, then he birdied the 372-yard 12th as well and holed from 15 feet for par at the next after a lady spectator had bizarrely picked up his ball when he flew the green from a fairway bunker.
Micheel, who is playing only his third major and his first US PGA, was close to a hole-in-one at the 181-yard 14th as the dream ride continued, but he was not quite out of sight of all of the chasing pack.
Fellow American Campbell, who missed the halfway cut in the first five of his eight majors but is being tipped for great things by tour insiders, finished birdie-birdie-bogey-birdie for a best-of-the-week 65.
And as soon as that was posted Micheel started to creak. Previously best known for rescuing an elderly couple from a sinking car 10 years ago, Micheel still had a firm grip on things, but that went when he bogeyed the last three holes for a 69 and matching four under aggregate of 206.
Masters champion Mike Weir is in third place at one under following a 70, while South African Tim Clark is one further back. Germany's Alex Cejka is among those who need Micheel and Campbell to feel the heat and buckle over the final 18 holes to have a chance. He is joint fifth with Ernie Els, Briny Baird and Billy Andrade.
Tiger Woods has not broken par all week and never looked like doing so from the moment he teed off. "I've just been a touch off," said Woods. "I've putted well, but par putts are not going to get it done. If you are a little off here that's it."
Padraig Harrington, meanwhile, recovered from a scrappy start to shoot 69. But having survived the halfway cut with nothing to spare at eight over he was still only seven over. Playing partner Gary Evans had a 71 for nine over, the same as Ian Poulter (72), while Paul Casey dropped three shots in the last two holes for a 75 and 13 over aggregate.
Filed by Barry J Whyte
