ATLANTA — American Brandt Snedeker edged ahead of world No. 1 Rory McIlroy in the FedExCup playoff race by charging into a tie for the lead in Saturday's third round of the elite Tour Championship. On a tricky day for scoring at a sunny but breezy East Lake Golf Club, Snedeker matched the best score of the week, firing a flawless six-under-par 64 to join Britain's Justin Rose (68) at eight-under 202. Overnight leader Jim Furyk had also been at eight-under with two holes to play but he triple-bogeyed the 17th, after pulling his tee shot into water, on the way to a 72 and a three-way tie for fourth at five under. Level with Furyk were Masters champion Bubba Watson (70) and Northern Irishman McIlroy (68), who is seeking a fifth PGA Tour victory this year, and his fourth in just five starts. American Ryan Moore was alone in third at six under after carding a third-round 65 in the PGA Tour's fourth and final playoff event. “It was probably one of the best rounds I've played this year,” a beaming Snedeker told reporters after covering the back nine in three-under 32 on a firm, fast-running layout, a 16-foot birdie putt at the 17th earning him a share of the lead. Snedeker was one of five golfers coming into the elite 30-man event knowing that victory Sunday would automatically secure him FedExCup playoff honors and the mind-boggling bonus of $10 million. Also in that quintet was FedExCup points leader McIlroy, who has been the game's most dominant player since cruising to a staggering eight-shot victory in last month's PGA Championship at Kiawah Island. Tiger Woods, who had battled to a 73 in Friday's second round, carded a 67 to climb into a four-way tie for seventh at four-under. Like Snedeker and McIlroy, he would land the FedExCup title by winning the Tour Championship. “I'm only four back ... it looks like I've got a shot at it tomorrow,” the former world No. 1 said after a dogged display that included four birdies and a lone bogey. “Just claw your way back into it.” Asked how tempting it was to be playing for a $10 million bonus in Sunday's final round, Woods replied: “That's not why we play. I'm playing for the ‘W' (win), and tomorrow I get a great shot at it. All the money, awards and all of that stuff, that comes along with winning championships. If I win the golf tournament, everything's kind of taken care of.” For Rose to win the playoff title, McIlroy would have to finish no better than 17th in the Tour Championship and Woods no higher than sixth, along with other scenarios. Lewis takes lead Third-ranked Stacy Lewis shot a 7-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead in the Navistar Classic, while second-round leader Lexi Thompson fell five shots behind at Prattville, Alabama, Saturday. Lewis, a two-time winner this season, had a 15-under 201 total on The Senator course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail's Capitol Hill complex. She birdied four of the first five holes in her bogey-free round. The 17-year-old Thompson had a 74 to drop into a tie for sixth at 10-under. Angela Stanford shot a 68. She won the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore in February. Lizette Salas with third at 12-under after a 70, and Haeji Kang and Mi Jung Hur followed at 11-under. Kang shot a 67, and Hur had a 72. Sarah Jane Smith and Hee Young Park joined Thompson at 10 under. Smith had a 68, and Park shot 72. Top-ranked Yani Tseng was 5 under after a 70. — Agencies
