Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia and Bernhard Langer are all on contention to capture The Tour Championship, presented by Dynegy, with all three European Tour Members lying in joint third place just two shots off the lead after three rounds at the Champions Golf Club in Houston.
Scott Verplank maintained a one stroke advantage after a third round 68 took him to 13 under par 200, with Open Champion David Duval moving into second place with an outstanding round of 63, eight under par, during which he chipped in twice. It was not the best round of the day however as Jim Furyk broke the course record with a 62.
Els, determined to extend to eight his run of winning at least one title in a season, was among those to move within striking distance following a flawless 65. Garcia, winner of two events on the US Tour this season in addition to the Trophee Lancome on The European Tour, picked up eight birdies in his round of 66 to join the six-way tie for third place on 11 under par 202.
Langer, one shot off the lead at the halfway stage picked up four birdies with just the two dropped shots, remains in the hunt for the title. Langer has won twice on The 2001 European Tour International Schedule and enjoyed an outstanding season on the US PGA Tour in which he has finished second and third twice. He is playing in The Tour Championship for the first time since 1987.
Verplank's lead over Duval was halved by a bogey at the par four 18th.
"I hit a bad seven iron," said Verplank. "I was trying to force it in. I had to putt the ball through the fringe and it didn't come out the way I thought it would."
