Furyk storms into BMW share

Furyk: Course record 62

Third round leaderboard:
(US unless stated)
J Furyk -12 (18)
C Villegas (Col) -12 (13)
B Gay -10 (15)
A Kim -9 (17)
A Baddeley (Aus) -8 (18)
KJ Choi (Kor) -8 (18)
T Clark (SA) -8 (14)
DJ Trahan -8 (18)

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Jim Furyk produced two sparkling rounds on a marathon day in St Louis to claim a share of the lead after the third round of the BMW Championship.

The American showed a welcome return to top form with the Ryder Cup just around the corner and, along with Camilo Villegas, stands two clear of the field on 12-under-par.

However, Villegas was one of 23 players unable to complete his third round and will return early on Sunday morning to play his remaining five holes before starting his final round later in the day.

With play on Thursday washed out by the remnants of Hurricane Gustav, officials scheduled 36 holes of play on Saturday to get the event back on course for a Sunday finish and it was Furyk who responded best to the challenge.

The 38-year-old fired a course record 62 in the second round and followed it with a 66 in the third to open up a two-shot lead over compatriot Brian Gay.

Another American, Anthony Kim, is a stroke further back at nine-under-par, while a group of four players - KJ Choi, DJ Trahan, Aaron Baddeley and Tim Clark - sit at eight-under.

However, the day belonged to Furyk who carded seven birdies and an eagle during his magnificent 62 which moved him to within a shot of leader Villegas after 36 holes.

There was a tinge of disappointment as his third round, which included six birdies, finished with a bogey at the last, but he was delighted with his efforts overall.

"I tried to pace myself all day, knowing we were going to be out there for 36 holes," Furyk explained.

"My goal was to play two solid rounds. It was solid all day, but that one nine holes really leap-frogged me from nowhere to close to the lead."

Positive frame of mind

Of his closing bogey, he added: "I still walk away in a positive frame of mind. I went at the pin with a wedge and it didn't work out.

"It's easy to make a mental mistake when you're tired, when your mind wanders for a little bit. All of a sudden you think 'what was I doing there? What was I thinking at that moment'?"

Villegas insisted he was not fazed by the prospect of his early start and late finish on Sunday as he bids to secure his first PGA Tour victory.

"We knew we weren't going to finish, so you just prepare yourself mentally and come back in the morning," he stated.

"I'm enjoying playing golf right now. I'm rolling in some great putts and I'm excited about tomorrow (Sunday)."

Sergio Garcia heads the European contingent, but is some seven strokes off the pace after a 68 and a 69 - that despite the first hole-in-one of his career during the second round.

USPGA champion Padraig Harrington finds himself well down the field on two-over after a 72, while FedEx Cup series leader Vijay Singh stands at one-over-par.