Woods stays three ahead at Southern Hills

TULSA, Oklahoma, Aug 12 (Reuters) Tiger Woods closed in on a 13th major title after maintaining his three-shot lead midway through the US PGA Championship final round today.

The world number one reeled off successive birdies from the seventh before bogeying the par-four ninth to reach the turn in one-under-par 34, and eight under overall.

Ernie Els, boosted by a 30-foot birdie putt at the third, was alone in second place at five under, after 10 holes, with American Woody Austin a further two strokes back in third, after nine.

Three strokes clear at the start of another stifling day at Southern Hills Country Club, Woods offset a bogey at the par-four second with a birdie at the fourth.

He struck a superb approach to eight feet at the seventh to set up birdie number two before rolling in a curling 30-footer from the fringe at the par-three eighth to briefly stretch his lead to five.

As the ball dropped into the hole, he pumped his fist to celebrate.

However, Woods bogeyed the uphill ninth after failing to reach the green in two and had his lead cut to three when South African Els picked up his fourth shot of the day at the 10th.

OVERWHELMING FAVOURITE World number one Woods, who carded a 69 in yesterday's third round, has never lost a major when holding at least a share of the 54-hole lead and is overwhelming favourite to clinch his 59th PGA Tour title.

He is also bidding to become only the third player to win at least four PGA Championships. Fellow Americans Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen won five apiece.

Britain's Simon Dyson made the most significant move among the early starters, charging up the leaderboard with a sizzling six-under-par 64.

The 29-year-old Englishman birdied four of the first six holes before finishing on level-par 280.

Competing in his seventh major and his first PGA Championship, Dyson signed off in style by rolling in a 20-footer at the last for his seventh birdie of the round.

''Everything just seemed to click today,'' the double European Tour winner told reporters after firing the second lowest score of the week. ''It's one of the best days I've had for a long time.'' Woods tied a major championship record with a spectacular 63 in Friday's second round.

Dyson, who began the final round tied for 44th, soared into an early share of fifth place.

REUTERS KK RAI0311