David Duval fired a bogey-free nine-under-par 63 to grab a one-stroke lead after four rounds of the 90-hole Invensys Classic.
Trying to end a 15-month victory drought, Duval started with three straight birdies and added six more at the TPC at Summerlin to reach 24-under 263 after 72 holes.
"I played about the same as the last few days, didn't hit it any better," Duval said. "I simply made a couple more putts. No big difference, other than that."
Duval has a one-shot lead over three-time champion Jim Furyk and Jeff Sluman, while Jonathan Byrd and Australia's Stuart Appleby are tied at 22-under 265.
Still 12th in the world golf rankings, Duval has not won since claiming his lone major championship at the 2001 British Open.
"It started to go bad in 2000, when I hurt my back," Duval explained. "I've won golf tournaments since, I won a major, I won in Japan, I've had a lot of good things. However, when I got back from that back injury, a lot of bad habits started to creep in to compensate for the back."
His lone top-10 finish this season was a tie for fourth at The Memorial in May, but he began to turn around his game last month at the Ryder Cup.
"It was a lot of things. I just got fired up for it, I guess," Duval said. "I guess I realized that if you play golf the week of the Ryder Cup, there's only one place to play golf, and that's the Ryder Cup. It helped wake me up and get focused on making sure I'm participating in two years' time."
"Tomorrow, I have one goal - to win a golf tournament," Duval said. "However, the goal One-A is to continue to play well. I've been playing long enough and have been in position many times.
Among those within striking distance is Charles Howell, who is part of a six-way tie for sixth place at 267. The reigning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year is trying to become the first player since Tiger Woods in March 2001 to win in back-to-back weeks.
AFP