Darren Clarke used a deft short game to seize the lead after three rounds of the World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational last night as the Irishman moved into position for his first win of the season.
The 35-year-old, who beat world number one Tiger Woods to win the 2000 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, cobbled together a four-under-par 66 on Firestone's South Course.
His 201 total, nine under par, on an increasingly hard and fast layout, was one shot better than American Jonathan Kaye.
Second-round co-leader Chris Riley managed a level-par 70 and stood two back at 203, with Woods and Davis Love III a further stroke back.
Both Kaye and Riley are playing in the event for the first time.
"I got a few breaks early on and didn't hit it particularly well, (not) as well as I have been the first two rounds," said Clarke, who hit six fairways but needed just 25 putts.
"My short game bailed me out."
Ranked 19th in the world, Clarke hasn't won since the 2002 Compass Group English Open. He was third two years ago here at Firestone.
With the fairways and greens drying out, his six birdies were augmented by several saves, none more impressive than the 30-foot bogey putt he converted at the 10th hole and a 12-foot chip-in for par at the 16th while using his three-wood.
"Darren played a very good round of golf, and when he got into trouble he scrambled well," said Clarke's playing partner, Brad Faxon.
"He'll be difficult to catch if he continues to play that way, particularly the way he's putting, but there are a lot of guys all bunched up who might be able to take a run at him." Kaye, who won earlier this year at the Buick Classic, tied Germany's Bernhard Langer for the day's low score, a five-under 65 highlighted by a four-birdie run to start the round.
Clarke, coming off a missed cut at the PGA Championship, has been working on his short game for the last month, and it has been paying off this week. "It hasn't been good enough," he admitted.
"If you're not shooting the numbers you should be shooting, there has to be some aspects you need to identify.
"I had become too technical with my main swing with (coach) Butch (Harmon) and trying to figure out a few things and neglected my short game, so I had to work on it very hard.
"I've put the work in to get myself in a position like this, so I think I'm on the right road."
Clarke said he wasn't going to put pressure on himself to win, but a victory would be welcome, especially at Firestone.
"After the majors I think you have all the guys, maybe with the exception of (The Players Championship), say the World Golf Championship is the one to win next.
"I've been fortunate enough to win one, but I'd like to win another," he added.