Jim Furyk has bounced back from his abysmal showing at the British Open.
The US Open champion made a 48-foot putt for birdie to cap a 7-under 65 and take the lead at the Buick Open on Saturday after three rounds. He is at 17 under, four shots ahead of Tiger Woods.
"I was just trying to roll it up there close and I got a bonus when it went in," Furyk said of his spectacular putt on 18. "That leaves a nice taste in my mouth."
Furyk insisted he wasn't sour for long after he missed the cut at the British Open.
"I forgot about it the moment I got on the plane and came back home," he said. "When I got my feet on American soil, I was as happy as anybody else. I don't live in the past.
"I look at the rest of the year and look at how many times I've played well and that I've won a major championship and lost once in a playoff. I had four bad days to miss two cuts this year. It's no big deal."
Furyk made six birdies and showed plenty of poise playing with Woods, while a raucous crowd followed them all day. The last time he led after 54 holes was at the US Open.
"I don't even think about it because I have played in those situations several times before," he said. "The only thing was that if there were 25,000 people on the course, it seemed like 20,000 of them were watching us."
Carl Paulson is one shot behind Furyk after shooting a 65. Neal Lancaster is at 15 under. Kenny Perry, Paul Goydos, Paul Gow and second-round leader Chris DiMarco, who shot a 71, are three shots off the lead.
Woods is among three players at 13 under.
"As far back as I am, and as many guys as there are between me and the lead, I'm going to have to be very aggressive," Woods said. "It's going to be tough because this is the type of course that gives us birdies in bunches, so you can't expect to be the only guy to go low.
"It isn't like the US Open where you feel like you have a great chance if you are four back. Here, it is very tough to come from that far behind, and if Jim plays as well as he just did, it will be even worse."
Woods is playing in his final tuneup before the PGA Championship in two weeks, his last chance this season to win a major.
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