Furyk shakes British blues at Buick

GRAND BLANC, Mich. -- Jim Furyk has bounced back from his abysmal showing at the British Open.

The U.S. Open champion made a 48-foot putt for birdie to cap a 7-under 65 and take the lead at the Buick Open on Saturday after three rounds. He is at 17 under, four shots ahead of Tiger Woods.

"I was just trying to roll it up there close and I got a bonus when it went in," Furyk said of his spectacular putt on 18. "That leaves a nice taste in my mouth."

Furyk insisted he wasn't sour for long after he missed the cut at the British Open.

"I forgot about it the moment I got on the plane and came back home," he said. "When I got my feet on American soil, I was as happy as anybody else. I don't live in the past.

"I look at the rest of the year and look at how many times I've played well and that I've won a major championship and lost once in a playoff. I had four bad days to miss two cuts this year. It's no big deal."

Furyk made six birdies and showed plenty of poise playing with Woods, while a raucous crowd followed them all day. The last time he led after 54 holes was at the U.S. Open.

"I don't even think about it because I have played in those situations several times before," he said. "The only thing was that if there were 25,000 people on the course, it seemed like 20,000 of them were watching us."

Carl Paulson is one shot behind Furyk after shooting a 65. Neal Lancaster is at 15 under. Kenny Perry, Paul Goydos, Paul Gow and second-round leader Chris DiMarco, who shot a 71, are three shots off the lead.

Woods is among three players at 13 under.

Woods is playing in his final tuneup before the PGA Championship in two weeks, his last chance this season to win a major.

Woods was even par -- with two bogeys and two birdies -- through 14 holes before making three straight birdies and barely missing another at 18. He is attempting to be the first repeat champion of the Buick Open since Tony Lema in 1965.

Woods showed up Saturday morning to finish his last three holes from the second round, which was delayed nearly five hours because of a storm. He climbed into contention right away.

He eagled No. 16, finished with a 65 and began the third round tied with Furyk at 10 under, three strokes behind DiMarco.

Champions Tour

CONCORD, Mass -- Allen Doyle shot a tournament-record 8-under 63 on Saturday -- including a 29 on the front nine -- to take the lead at 11 under after two rounds of the FleetBoston Classic.

Defending champion Bob Gilder shot a 65 to move to 9 under and into a tie for second with James Mason, who was 5 under for the day at the 6,591-yard, par-71 Nashawtuc Country Club. First-round leader Bruce Fleisher was among five tied at 7 under.

Women's British Open

LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England -- Ten weeks into her pregnancy, Patricia Meunier-Lebouc is chasing her second major title of the year at the Women's British Open.

The Frenchwoman shot a 5-under 67 Saturday to lead Se Ri Pak and Wendy Ward by one stroke after three rounds. Meunier-Lebouc was at 10-under 206 with right behind.

Pak and Ward each carded a 69 for 207. And Meunier-Lebouc also will have to shake Annika Sorenstam and Karrie Webb. Sorenstam, who won this year's LPGA Championship, is at 208 while Webb, the defending champion, is at 209.

Heather Bowie led by two strokes entering the day in her bid for her first pro title but wound up at 210.

-- From wire reports