American Nick Watney fired a course record eight-under-par 62 to grab a share of the third round lead with Rickie Fowler at the AT&T National at Aronimink on Saturday.
After stumbling into the turn with bogeys on eight and nine, Watney caught fire and carded six birdies plus an eagle at the par-five 16th.
Fowler also had a sizzling afternoon and returned a six-under 64 to join Watney on nine-under 201 for the tournament.
Photo: Reuters
Lurking one shot back is 36-hole leader K.J. Choi of South Korea, who rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt at the 18th for a one-under 69.
Australian Adam Scott (66), Steve Marino (63) and Webb Simpson (64) were tied for fourth at seven-under 203.
In all, seven players posted rounds of 64 or better.
Fowler, 22, looking for his first career victory in his second season on the USPGA Tour, birdied three of his first four holes.
A birdie on 16 put the young American at 10-under, but Fowler immediately gave the shot back with a bogey at 17 to drop into a tie for first.
Watney caught fire on his back nine on a steamy day in the Philadelphia suburbs on a course far more vulnerable to low scoring than in the previous two rounds because of softer greens and easier pin placements.
After a sloppy bogey at the ninth hole and even par 35 on the front, Watney produced a sizzling back nine highlighted by a two-putt eagle at 16.
His 62 broke a record set earlier in the day by Marino and Kirk. The old record of 64 had only been set on Friday by Choi, who had four front nine bogeys on Saturday, but rallied on the back nine to post his third straight round in the 60s.
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