Ernie Els held off some early charges under blustery conditions yesterday and shot a 4-under-par 68 to finish where he started -- with a two-stroke lead at the American Express Championship at Thomastown, Ireland, and in great shape to win the World Golf Championship for the first time. Els bounced back from a bogey at No. 9 -- his only bogey of the third round -- with back-to-back birdies to regain the lead. He picked up another shot on the 17th, and had a 20-foot birdie putt from the fringe catch the lip at No. 18. He was at 15-under 201 and had a two-shot lead over Thomas Bjorn, who shot a 66.Tiger Woods nearly holed out from 250 yards on the 18th hole, then missed the 10-foot birdie putt and had to settle for his second straight 70, leaving him seven shots behind. Padraig Harrington, who birdied six of his first 10 holes, wound up with a 66. He was at 12-under 204, along with Todd Hamilton (69) and David Howell (66).
PGA -- Fred Funk fired an 8-under 64 to grab a one-stroke lead over Chris Couch (68) and second-round leader Steve Pate (69) after three rounds of the Southern Farm Bureau Classic at Madison, Miss. Funk enters the final round at 16-under 200.
Champions -- Wayne Levi shot a 4-under 68 at the Constellation Energy Classic, giving him a two-stroke lead over Jose Maria Canizares (66) and Graham Marsh (66) after two rounds at Hunt Valley, Md., as he bids for his second career Champions Tour title.
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