Dufner seizes PGA lead with 63

ROCHESTER, New York—Jason Dufner brightened up a dreary day with a charge up the PGA Championship leaderboard and a run at golf history, carding a seven-under 63 on Friday to match the best score for a round at a major.

Just hours after Webb over Australia’s Adam Scott (68) Simpson thrilled the rainand the American pair of Matt soaked crowd with a 64, equaling Kuchar (66) and Jim Furyk (68). the Oak Hill course record, Dufner Britain’s US Open champion went one better, becoming just the Justin Rose (66) and Swede Hen24th player to shoot 63 at one of rik Stenson (66) will start Saturgolf’s four major events. day’s third round one stoke fur

His bogey-free round also shot ther back at 134. the laid-back American to the top Tiger Woods, stuck in a five-year of the leaderboard with a two major-victory drought, was unable round total of nine-under 131, to work his way up the leadergiving him a two shot advantage board, scrapping to a level par 70 to sit 10 shots behind Dufner.

“It’s tough when you’re chasing history,” Dufner told reporters. “You will be the first one to do something. I don’t think I’ve been the first to do anything in my life.”

Dufner was typically blasé, showing not a hint of emotion when his approach at the second spun back into the cup for an eagle or when his approach to the 18th landed 12-feet from the hole.

As he sized up the historic putt, the crowd fell quiet, then groaned when it slowly rolled to halt short of its target.

With the sun-setting, KJ Choi challenged the record but he bogey 17 and signed for a 65.

The early starters were greeted by dark skies and pounding rain at stately OakHill Country Club.

Scott, the joint overnight leader with Furyk, teed off on the back nine in the worst of the conditions but the Masters champ was unbothered by the downpour, picking up a birdie on his first hole.

The heavy favorite coming into this week after romping to a seven-stroke victory at the WGCBridgestone Invitational on Sun- day, Woods was unable to take advantage of the soft conditions.

“Obviously I’m going to have to put together a really good weekend,” he said.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy (71) looked headed for an early exit until he roared back with four birdies over his final seven holes to get back to 140 and make the three-over cut.

Former Masters champions Bubba Watson, South African Charl Schwartzel, Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington were among the big-name casualties.