Steinhauer moves into lead in British

Sherri Steinhauer rolled in a 50-foot putt on the way to a 6-under 66 to take a three-stroke lead at the Women's British Open at Royal Lytham in Lyhthan St. Annes, England, on Saturday.

After 46-year-old Juli Inkster squandered the three-stroke lead she held following the second round, the 43-year-old Steinhauer took over on the course where she won the first of her two straight British Open titles to move to 7-under 209 after three rounds.

"I have great memories from here," said Steinhauer, who won at Royal Lytham in 1998 before the event was a major for women's golf.

Inkster (74), Lorena Ochoa (65), 2000 British Open champion Sophie Gustafson (69) and 2004 winner Karen Stupples (70) were all at 4-under 212.

Annika Sorenstam, who won the event in 2003, was seven strokes back after she shot a 1-over 73.

Michelle Wie failed to finish below par for the sixth straight round in a major, shooting an even-par 72 and falling 11 strokes off the lead.

Steinhauer picked up five shots in six holes on the back nine. In addition to her long eagle putt at the 464-yard par-5 15th, she made putts of 25 and 30 feet for birdies.

"It was just one of those days when I could just feel that I was in a zone. I just stayed out of my way and really just enjoyed the day," Steinhauer said.

The second of those victories came at Woburn. But the American has won only one tournament, the 2004 Sybase Classic, in 6 1/2 years since then. In 2003, she missed the cut in all four majors.

"I'm not going to hide it. I'll definitely be nervous and I just hope I can keep my nerves under control and just enjoy the position," Steinhauer said.

One of those in the chase is Stupples, the Dalhousie Golf Club touring professional who overcame a bogey on the fourth hole with birdies on Nos. 5, 11 and 15. She has played the course's five closing holes in 4 under, including an eagle Friday on No. 16.

PGA Tour

Tiger Woods closed in on his second straight victory with a big assist from a fan Saturday, birdieing two of his last three holes for his third straight 6-under 66 and a two-stroke lead in the Buick Open.

Woods surged to the top of the leaderboard with a birdie at No. 16 and caught a break on the last hole, helping him pull away from a pack of players having their way with Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc, Mich.

His tee shot on 18 went way left and ricocheted off a spectator and into the fairway. Woods thanked the fan by giving him a signed glove, and ended up making a 7-footer for birdie.

Champions Tour

Curtis Strange moved into position for his first Champions Tour victory, shooting a 6-under 66 in windy conditions Saturday to take a three-stroke lead over David Edwards at the 3M Championship in Blaine, Minn.