Singh Dusts Woods, Leads Big

By Sports Network

GRAND BLANC, Mich. -- Vijay Singh fired a 9-under 63 in the third round Saturday to extend his lead to five shots at the Buick Open. Singh stands at 22-under-par 194, which tied the 54-hole scoring record that Kenny Perry set in 2001.
 
Zach Johnson climbed into second place at 17-under-par 199 thanks to a third- round, 7-under 65. He is two strokes clear of Masters runner-up Chris DiMarco, who posted a 6-under 66 on Saturday to get to minus-15.
 

Tiger Woods lipped out a par putt on the 18th hole to close a round of 2-under 70. He stands eight shots behind Singh at 14-under-par 202. Woods was joined there by John Deere winner Sean O'Hair (66) and Chrysler Classic champion Geoff Ogilvy (65).
 
Singh, the reigning PGA Champion, came flying out of the gate with birdies on one and two, both from within 10 feet before he made it three straight as he birdied the third on Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club to move to 16 under, six clear of Woods.
 
The Fijian sank a 14-foot birdie try on the fifth and then birdied six as well. Despite his hot play, Singh only led Johnson by four strokes. Singh missed a short birdie try on seven, but then birdie eight to move to minus-19.
 
Singh sank a 13-foot birdie try on nine to move five clear of Johnson.
 
"You can't always play two nine holes of golf like I did the front nine," Singh said. "Otherwise, you'd be shooting 56s and 57s."
 
Singh cooled down with back-to-back pars from the 10th. He drove within 30 yards of the green at 12 and got up and down for his birdie from there.
 
The world's second-ranked player two-putted for birdie at 13. After a pair of pars, Singh missed a short par putt on 16 to slip back to minus-21, but got that shot back with a 7-foot birdie putt on the 18th to lead by five entering the final round.
 
"It was incredible. The putter started working. It woke up finally," said Singh, who has struggled with the putter this year. "You know, I was very confident out there. I was very focused on what I was doing. I just went out there and played golf, and that's what I told myself today, go out and hit the shots and try to roll some putts in. They started going in."
 
Singh has led 23 times after three rounds and gone on to win 15 of those tournaments. Singh, who won this crown in 1997, as well as last year, could become the first player to win this title three times and just the second back-to-back winner here.