Golf: Woods and Donald set up final-round showdown

Briton Luke Donald faces the unenviable task of going head-to-head with Tiger Woods in the final round tomorrow. Picture / Reuters

MEDINAH, Illinois - Tiger Woods and Briton Luke Donald were tied for the lead at 14-under par after the third round of the PGA Championship golf major here today.

World No 1 Woods, seeking his second successive major after winning the British Open, fired a seven-under-par 65, and Donald posted a bogey-free 66 to set up the last pairing in Sunday's final round.

Canadian Mike Weir, the 2003 Masters champion, also shot a 65 and was in third place at 12-under 204, one shot better than US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia, who posted a 68.

Four strokes off the pace were Spaniard Sergio Garcia, runner-up to Woods at the 1999 PGA at Medinah, and 2003 PGA winner Shaun Micheel, who both shot 67s.

With Medinah's greens made even more receptive by Friday's late rain, players were taking dead aim at the flags and birdies came by the bucket load.

"It doesn't seem like a major in a sense," Woods said.

"Generally in a major championship you make mostly pars and sprinkle in a couple of birdies. Today was totally different. You had to go out and make a bunch of birdies."

At one point 10 players were tied for the lead at eight-under before Donald emerged from the pack with an impeccable outward half, his chip-in at the ninth giving him his fifth birdie of the day.

Woods rolled in a 30-foot putt to save par after a wild drive at the first.

The 30-year-old American, who began the day at seven-under, joined the birdie parade at the second, fifth, seventh and ninth and came agonisingly close to two others.

A string of three birdies in a row from the 13th enabled Woods to leapfrog Donald into the lead.

Donald, who ran off seven successive pars after his chip-in at nine, drew level with Woods after sending a brilliant tee shot to within a couple of feet at the 197-yard, par-three 17th.

The 28-year-old Donald, a local favourite who graduated college from nearby Northwestern and is commuting to the tournament from his home about 40 minutes away, is chasing his first major and hoping to become the first European-born player to win the PGA since Briton Tommy Armour in 1930.

South Korean KJ Choi (67) finished at eight under, one stroke ahead of Phil Mickelson (68), Chris DiMarco (67), Tim Herron (72) and Briton Ian Poulter (68).

- REUTERS