Thomas takes control with 67

Justin Thomas pulled away from the crowd with five birdies in the middle of his round for a 3-under 67 and a three-shot lead going into the final round of the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron.

No one could keep pace with Thomas, least of all Tiger Woods.

Starting the third round Saturday five shots behind, Woods managed only one birdie and shot 73 to end his streak of 10 consecutive rounds at par or better during his comeback season. He was 11 shots behind.

Thomas, who defends his title next week in the PGA Championship, goes after his third victory of the season, but first in five months.

He plays in the final group with Rory McIlroy, who shot a 67 and was three behind. Ian Poulter (70) also was three back.

Champions: Kenny Perry tied a tournament record with a 12-under 60 and has a five-shot lead after two rounds of the 3M Championship. Looking to become just the second three-time winner of the event, Perry had two eagles and eight birdies at a wet TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn. His two-round score of 126 is a tournament record.

Perry, who won the event in 2014 and 2015, shot 30 on the front, including holing out from 106 yards for eagle at the par-5 sixth. He birdied Nos. 12, 13, 16 and 17 before an eagle at 18.

Glen Day (65) is five shots back; Tom Gillis (67), Lee Janzen (68) and Jerry Smith (70) are at 10 under.

Women’s British Open: Pornanong Phatlum shot a 3-under 69 to hold onto her one-shot lead over Georgina Hall of England after the third round at Royal Lytham.