With champion Tiger Woods far out of contention, American Sean O'Hair broke one stroke clear on a tightly bunched leaderboard midway through Saturday's third round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. O'Hair, bidding for his fourth PGA Tour title, rolled in a 21-foot putt to birdie the par-four 13th and get to eight under overall on a sun-soaked day at Firestone Country Club. That put the slim American one ahead of compatriots Ryan Palmer, Matt Kuchar, Bubba Watson and Justin Leonard, South African Ernie Els and Britain's Oliver Wilson. Palmer had completed 15 holes, Wilson 14, Kuchar 11, Watson eight and Leonard seven. Three-times major winner Els, among the earlier starters, birdied the last two holes for a sparkling six-under 64 to hold the clubhouse lead at seven-under 203. “I felt I was in control of my ball off the tees and I gave myself a lot of opportunities,” the smooth-swinging South African told reporters after totalling only 25 putts. “When I didn't, I got the ball up and down. It was a really nice round. I needed to get something in the middle sixties to have a chance tomorrow.” Fan favorite Phil Mickelson, who has a golden opportunity to replace Woods as world No. 1 after this week, was two shots off the pace after eight holes. Mickelson rolled in a 26-footer to birdie the par-three seventh, bringing a load roar from the crowd packed around the green as he briefly moved into a six-way tie for the lead. The popular American pumped his left fist in celebration as he drew level with Els, O'Hair, Kuchar, Watson and Leonard. Moments later Palmer made it a log-jam of seven players at the top when he birdied the 14th but O'Hair then edged ahead and Mickelson slipped back with a bogey at the eighth. Woods, champion here last year but a shadow of his former dominant self this week, completed his third round 2-1/2 hours before the leaders teed off. The American world No. 1 struggled to a dismal 75 in ideal scoring conditions for an 11-over total of 221, the worst of his PGA Tour career relative to par. “I drove it terrible, hit my irons terrible, didn't putt well and it added up to a lot,” Woods said. The American's top ranking, which he has held for 269 consecutive weeks, is now under severe threat with Mickelson well positioned to replace him at the end of this week. Cejka moves one shot clear Germany's Alex Cejka shrugged off gusting winds to take a one-shot lead after Friday's second round at the Turning Stone Resort Championship in Verona, New York. The 39-year-old, seeking his maiden PGA Tour title, fired a sparkling four-under-par 68 at Atunyote Golf Club for a 10-under total of 134. Cejka covered the back nine in four-under 32 to end the day a stroke in front of South African Rory Sabbatini (70) and American Chris Tidland (69). Australian Steve Elkington carded a 71 to share fourth place at seven-under with Britain's Brian Davis (71) and Americans Robert Garrigus (69), Woody Austin (69), John Mallinger (70) and Omar Uresti (72).
