Watney is quick out of the block to move to top in third round

SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN // Two birdies in the opening three holes saw Nick Watney move to the head of the leaderboard as the third round of the US PGA Championship began yesterday. The American moved ahead of compatriot Matt Kuchar, who had led the field on eight-under par at the halfway stage, as he moved to nine-under par. Another early mover was Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman picked up two shots in his first four holes to go to seven-under par.

Earlier, Jim Furyk birdied four of his first five holes when play resumed yesterday, finishing his second round with a 68 that got him to six-under par. He then had birdied the third hole of the third round to lie just two shots off Watney, as the top of the leaderboard remained tight, with the tournament to be decided in today's final round. Tiger Woods, trying to hang on to the No 1 ranking he has held for more than five years, had to scramble early to make the turn at even par. But he settled down with a birdie to start the back nine and finished with a 70 that has him at three-under par for the tournament. It was the first time Woods was under par in successive rounds since early July.

But dropped shots at the fourth and fifth holes of his third round saw him drop back to one-under par and left him with a lot of work to do to get back in contention. * Associated Press