Watney opens three-shot lead at PGA Championship (1st Lead)

By DB Peters Aug 15, 2010, 0:28 GMT

Sheboygan, Wisconsin - American Nick Watney on Saturday opened up a three-shot lead at the top of the leaderboard midway through the third round at the PGA Championship.

Watney, who birdied the first two holes of the first two rounds on the Whistling Straits course in Kohler, Wisconsin, did the same again on Saturday as he birdied the first two and then had a three-hole birdy streak starting on the par-five fifth hole.

With four holes to play the 29-year-old was on 13-under for the tournament to hold a three shot lead over Dustin Johnson and young Irish golfer Rory McIlroy, who were both on ten-under.

Behind the leaders a group of six players were on nine under, including China's Wenchong Liang, Australian Jason Day and Germany's Martin Kaymer, who were the only ones of the leading golfers to have completed their rounds and were on 207.

Kaymer, who ended the day on a five-under 67, said that he was very happy with his round. 'I was very pleased as I only had one bogey. I was playing great golf and finally the putts were dropping.

'It feels very nice to start a Sunday knowing that you have a chance to win a major championship. It gives you so much motivation and I really enjoy that.

'I put myself in a very good position. I finished in the top ten in three majors before.

'The US Open and the British Open they were helping me. I was thinking a lot about what was happening at the British Open, were I made a couple of double bogeys. I was not eating a lot there and had no energy, so I did not repeat those mistakes. I know what I have to do,' the German said.

The early leader Matt Kuchar had slipped back to tied 12th after playing two bogeys without managing a birdie on his round.

Tiger Woods, who is struggling to gain an automatic place in the American Ryder Cup, finished his second round earlier on Saturday on 70 to be three under for the tournament.

He then started his third round poorly with three bogeys on the front nine before finding his form with four birdies coming in, but another dropped shot saw him end the round on an even par 72 to a combined total of 213.

Earlier in the day the cut was at two-over and among the players who missed the cut were defending champion YE Yang, as well as Padraig Harrington and British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen.

The second round is due to be completed later Saturday with the final round scheduled for Sunday.