Golf News

Experience starts to rise in Atlanta

Aug 13, 2011, 19:45 GMT

Atlanta, Georgia - The third round of the PGA Championship continued on Saturday with several prominent players moving to within striking distance of current co-leaders John Senden and Jason Dufner.

Australian Senden opened his round with a birdie to join overnight leader Dufner at five under, while Keegan Bradley started his round with a double bogey to fall off the top of the table.

David Toms set the early pace at Atlanta Athletic Club by shooting five under on the back nine on his way to the clubhouse with a 65, and two under for the tournament.

Toms is three behind the leaders alongside the experienced group of England's Lee Westwood, Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, four-time major winner Phil Mickelson and Denmark's Anders Hansen.

World number one Luke Donald has also made a charge, with the Englishman shooting five under for the day heading down the stretch.

He is on four under for the tournament with an American trio of first round leader Steve Stricker, DA Points and Brendan Steele.

Senden's fellow Australian Adam Scott is just two off the lead at three under, even with Bradley, veteran Scott Verplank, Brandt Jobe and Jim Furyk.

Bradley and Dufner were seen as unlikely leaders at a major given their lack of previous success, and the golf course has won a reputation for being cruel.

Bradley's slow start highlights his inexperience. This is his first appearance at a major after just turning professional in 2008, but he did win the Byron Nelson event earlier this year.

Dufner finished tied for fifth at last year's PGA Championship and is currently ranked 80th in the world.

Senden is 92nd in the world, but at the age of 40 he has been a professional for the last decade. His tied-for fourth place at the 2007 PGA remains his best performance at a major.

Tiger Woods, defending champion Martin Kaymer, Jason Day, who had finished second at each of the last two majors, and British Open champion Darren Clarke are among the players who failed to make the cut Friday.