Padraig Harrington fired a three-under par 68 to match American Jim Furyk for the lead after the third round of the $5.2million US PGA Barclays Classic at the Westchester Country Club in New York.
Harrington and Furyk stand on nine-under par 204 after 54 holes, two strokes ahead of Americans Brian Gay and Brad Faxon and four ahead of the fifth-place trio of Australian John Senden, American Kenny Perry and Fiji's Vijay Singh.
The Dubliner birdied the 16th and 18th holes at Westchester Country Club and led alone until Furyk birdied the 18th to join him atop the leaderboard.
"The first 11 holes I never missed a shot," Harrington said. "Every time I was in the right position on the fairways and the greens." The Irishman took bogeys at 11 and 12 but offset them with his strong finish. He added: "The two bogeys in a row came out of nowhere, but I kept my head in the right place and I was able to make a couple of birdies on the way home."
Harrington and Furyk, the 2003 US Open winner who has not won a title in two years, have reason to feel this event owes them one. The Irishman lost to Spain's Sergio Garcia in a three-way play-off here last year while Furyk lost a 1998 play-off to compatriot JP Hayes.
Harrington, who missed the cut in his past two starts, won his first US title earlier this season at the Honda Classic, but ending a US drought makes him no less hungry for victory here.
"Going out tomorrow will be just like any other tournament in which I have been in contention," Harrington said. "It was a big monkey off my back and I have a chance to win my 14th (overall) event. "Obviously, this would be a big tournament win to get, but it is not as big as the first one."
Furyk led by three shots after the first round and took a one-shot lead into the third round in quest of the $1.035million top prize. Harrington knows Furyk will not be beaten easily. "Jim is a world-class player and it is good that I am there with him," said Harrington. "You have to expect he will play a solid game. He's always going to be good and steady. I have to go out and play better."
Furyk had two birdies and a bogey on his back nine. "I knew the back nine was going to be very difficult and it took its toll on some guys," said Furyk. "I made sure not to get ahead of myself, made sure that I hit the fairways and the greens. I put the ball in good positions. I had birdie opportunities on 11, 13 and again on 14 and had some good putts, but they didn't go in. I had to knock in 15-footers, which a few times I was able to do."
Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell moved to seven shots off the pace with a superb four-under par 67.
