LEMONT (Illinois), July 9: World number three Vijay Singh fired a three-under-par 68 to take a two-stroke lead after the third round of the Western Open on Saturday, with a resurgent Tiger Woods three adrift.

Fijian Singh, who began the day two off the pace, picked up three birdies on the back nine as he posted an 11-under total of 202.

Tied for second position were Americans Stewart Cink (69) and Joe Ogilvie (69), Swede Carl Pettersson (65), Australian Mathew Goggin (66) and South African Trevor Immelman (69).

Woods powered into contention with a five-under 66 for an aggregate of 205. Also on that mark were holder Jim Furyk and fellow American Scott Gutschewski.

Leading third round scores:

202 – Vijay Singh (Fiji) 67, 67, 68.

204 – Carl Pettersson (Sweden) 69, 70, 65; Mathew Goggin (Australia) 69, 69, 66; Stewart Cink (US) 71, 64, 69; Trevor Immelman (South Africa) 69, 66, 69; Joe Ogilvie (US) 66, 69, 69.

205 – Tiger Woods (US) 72, 67, 66; Jim Furyk (US) 69, 67, 69; Scott Gutschewski (US) 70, 66, 69.

206 – Steve Lowery (US) 71, 67, 68; Jason Gore (US) 70, 67, 69; Robert Allenby (Australia) 67, 70, 69; Lucas Glover (US) 66, 70, 70; Stephen Ames (Canada) 68, 68, 70.

207 – Justin Rose (Britain) 71, 71, 65; Tag Ridings (US) 70, 72, 65; Rod Pampling (Australia) 73, 65, 69; Heath Slocum (US) 70, 68, 69; Stephen Leaney (Australia) 67, 70, 70; Robert Damron (US) 69, 67, 71.

208 – Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) 72, 70, 66; Adam Scott (Australia) 72, 68, 68; Pat Perez (US) 69, 69, 70; Shaun Micheel (US) 69, 69, 70; Steve Flesch (US) 71, 67, 70; Luke Donald (Britain) 70, 67, 71; Daniel Chopra (Sweden) 66, 66, 76.

EUROPEAN OPEN