Singh in control as Faldo trails

Golf

Britain's Nick Faldo fired a respectable par 70 on the demanding Firestone course at the World Series of in Akron, Ohio on Saturday - but it looks to have been too little, too late after a stunning third round by Vijay Singh.

Singh reeled off five successive early birdies on his way to a five-under- par 65 and a two-stroke lead in the pounds 1.3m tournament, which carries a 10-year US PGA Tour exemption for the winner.

Faldo, who on Friday was confirmed as the first of the Europe Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher's two wild cards, lies seven strokes behind Singh after two rounds of 71.

The 32-year-old Fijian has a five-under 205 total with one round to play, while the half-way leader, Jim Gallagher (70), and the defending champion, Jose-Maria Olazabal (69), were tied for second on 207.

The Spaniard, who has been struggling with a foot injury and says he will not accept Gallacher's likely offer of the second wild card unless he is fully fit, started poorly with three bogeys on the front nine but picked up four birdies coming home.

The US PGA champion, Steve Elkington of Australia, was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard