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DUBLIN, Ohio: Americans Matt Bettencourt and Mark Wilson shared the lead after the third round of the PGA Memorial tournament but Tiger Woods and Geoff Ogilvy also charged into contention.
World number one Woods, a 14-time major champion, matched Bettencourt, seeking his first PGA victory, for the day's second-low round at four-under 68.
"Overall, I got myself back into the tournament and I'm looking forward to Sunday," Woods said.
Ogilvy fired nine birdies in a stunning nine-under par 63 performance.
"I'm very happy with a round like that," Ogilvy said. "Hit close on the first, and that always puts a nice taste in your mouth and tapped it in for birdie and went on from there. It was just a nice comfortable day.
"I hit some pretty decent shots but I missed the green. I seemed to be in spots where I could get up and down. I made a few long putts that I had been making a couple of 20 footers. Hit a few close. Just a nice day."
Wilson, who bounced back for a 69 after opening with three bogeys, joined Bettencourt on nine-under par 207 through 54 holes at the US$6-million classic hosted by legend Jack Nicklaus, a key tuneup event for the US Open.
Americans Jim Furyk and Jonathan Byrd, co-leaders when the round began, each fired 71s to stand one stroke off the pace with Ogilvy and American Davis Love another stroke off the pace.
Woods, South African star Ernie Els and Americans Michael Letzig and Matt Kuchar shared seventh on 211, four off the pace but lurking within reach for the final round.
Woods was happy to be able to push himself in post-round workouts now that he has regained full power following his left knee surgery, an operation that kept him out from last June through this past February.
"I can start practicing now so I can fix things that went wrong on the golf course," Woods said.
Bettencourt answered a bogey at the par-3 fourth with birdies on the next four holes, including the par-5 fifth and seventh and par-3 eighth, and followed a bogey to open the back nine with birdies at 11 and 12.
Shrugging off the tension of contending for a title among some of the game's greats, Bettencourt followed a bogey at 14 with birdies at 15 and 17 before a bogey at 18 cost him sole possession of the lead.
"It's a challenge," Bettencourt said. "You've got to go out and have fun, play like you do at home, bring the same attitude. It will pay off. It is an adjustment. I will try to keep myself on the golf course and see what happens."
Bettencourt shared 22nd at Charlotte last month for his only top-45 finish in 16 starts this year.
Wilson, who won in 2007 at Los Angeles and three months ago in Mexico, could claim a US Open berth with his second title of the year in his 175th career start, but he must shake off the nerves that led to a bogey-bogey-bogey start.
"I got off to a bad start. A couple things didn't go my way," he said. "But it was nice to hang in there and get it going. I feel pretty comfortable.
"I was nervous this monring. That showed in the first three holes. I know it's a long round Sunday. If I start with three birdies I still have 15 more holes to go."
Woods began with a bogey but recovered with birdies at the second and fifth holes, then eagled the par-5 11th and added birdies at 14 and 15 before falling back with a bogey at 17.
Byrd joined Furyk in third by knocking his approach at the 18th inches from the pin, completing a comeback to 71 after taking a triple bogey on the fourth hole.
- AFP/ls/yb
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