subject: China's Liang Sets Record at PGA [print this page] China's Liang Sets Record at PGA China's Liang Sets Record at PGA
American Watney, whose six top-10 finishes this year include two in majors, moved to 13-under 203 and has a three-shot lead over rising star Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and American Dustin Johnson, who each shot 67s.
Liang rolled in eight birdies during a bogey-free round as he went one stroke better than the previous Whistling Straits record set by Miguel Angel Jimenez and Darren Clarke.
"I know how to remain calm and not be overwhelmed by pressure," Liang said. "that's why I was able to perform very well today."
Liang reached nine-under 207 through 54 holes and is four shots adrift of Watney, tied for fourth with Australian Jason Day (66) and German Martin Kaymer (67).
Steve Elkington (67), Zach Johnson (69), Jason Dufner (69) and Jim Furyk (70) are at eight-under 208.
Watney, who won for the second time on the PGA Tour at last year's Buick Invitational, competed in two previous PGA Championships but missed the cut in both.
"I am going to go out there tomorrow, put a tee in the ground on No 1 and just focus on that shot," Watney said. "It is going to be a long day and a tough day, but I am really looking forward to it."
Watney, 29, had three consecutive birdies on the front nine, including a 15-foot putt on the par-five fifth hole. He opened his third round with birdies on the first and second holes and finished with a bogey on the par-four 18.
McIlroy, who earned his first PGA Tour title earlier this season at Quail Hollow, made birdies on three of his first five holes. He finished with six birdies, 11 pars and one bogey.
"I holed a lot of putts out there," McIlroy said. "I didn't do a lot wrong. I saved pars when I needed to and took advantage of the holes where I gave myself good chances for birdies."
Woods finally completed his darkness-halted second round in the morning but couldn't maintain his solid play throughout the third round. He had three bogeys on the front nine and hit just five of 14 fairways in the third round. His putting and the par-fives gave him the most trouble.
"Unfortunately, you have to make birdies on the par-fives and I haven't done that," Woods said.
Half the field had to finish its second rounds on Saturday morning after darkness halted play on Thursday and Friday.
Woods played in the first two rounds with defending champion Yang, who missed the cut.
European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, three-time major winner Padraig Harrington and reigning British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa also missed the cut. Saturday was the first time that the day's action got off on schedule. There have been a total of nearly six hours in fog delays followed by strong winds and rain during much of Friday's play.
