ranked Tiger Woods squandered a three-stroke edge midway into his round on Saturday but clung to a share of the lead with defending champion Anthony Kim after 54 holes at the PGA National. Woods and top foes unleashed US Independence Day fireworks at Congressional Golf Club with four men tied for the lead until Woods and Kim each birdied the par-5 16th hole to finish the third round on 10-under par 200. Woods fired a third-round 70 while Kim shot 68 to put himself into a dream first-ever PGA pairing against 14-time major winner Woods, the man whose heroic feats prompted him to play golf. “I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited,” Kim said. “This is a day I've been waiting for a long time. I'm going to go out there and enjoy it.” Tournament host Woods, seeking his 68th career crown, has won 44 of 47 prior US PGA events when leading or sharing the lead after 54 holes and has finished in the top 10 at 19 consecutive stroke-play tournaments. Michael Allen, the 50-year-old who won the Senior PGA Championship in May, and fellow American Cameron Beckman shared third on 201. US veteran Jim Furyk and Australian Rod Pampling are on 202 with US Open winner Lucas Glover on 203. Woods, meanwhile, took a swing at Major League Baseball's New York Yankees and their pricey seats near the home plate in explaining why he has family-affordable ticket prices for his PGA tournament. The world number one had tickets for just $25 for the first two rounds of the event with children able to get in for free. Free tickets were also made available for military personnel. It's a sharp contrast to the new Yankee Stadium, where top-priced seats were cut in half to $1,250. Echenique hangs on to lead In France, Argentine Rafa Echenique birdied the final hole of his third round to edge into a one-shot lead on 11-under-par 202 at the French Open on Saturday. An eight-foot putt after a fine approach over the lake by Echenique dropped Germany's Martin Kaymer (69), who equalled the course record 62 in the first round, back to second place. Britain's Paul Waring (68) was a further stroke back, a shot in front of compatriot Seve Benson (68), Australian Richard Green (70) and Sweden's Peter Hanson (70). Echenique will draw inspiration from twice major champion Angel Cabrera to try to win his maiden European Tour title on Sunday. “Angel is a good friend and my hero,” Echenique told reporters. “I play a lot with him and he gives me good advice. He is a different level now so he knows what he is talking about. He told me if I get in position to win I must relax and not be tense. That's what I hope to do.” Last week in Munich, Echenique secured his second European Tour runner-up spot after scoring an albatross on the 18th in the final round. Kaymer, 24, felt his greater experience in winning two European Tour titles already might stand him in good stead as he aimed for a third victory to help him climb into the world ranking top 20. “I can remember when I was leading in Abu Dhabi, trying to win for the first time and you can get very nervous because it is a new situation for you,” Kaymer told reporters. “But I've been up there a few times now and I hope to use that experience tomorrow.” Yi grabs lead In Ohio, South Korea's Yi Eun-jung fired a 10-under 61 and grabbed the lead after the third round of the $1.4 million LPGA Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic on Saturday. Yi rolled in eight birdies and holed out from the fairway for an eagle at No. 10, posting a personal best score on the Tour. The 21-year-old Yi moved to 18-under 195 and takes a four-shot lead over Kim Song-Hee (64) and American Morgan Pressel (67) into Sunday's fourth round. Yi's 61 was not a course record on the par-71 Highland Meadows as Paula Creamer shot a 60 in the opening round in 2008. Annika Sorenstam has the only 59 in LPGA Tour history.
