Golf: Duval has eighth victory in his sights

DAVID DUVAL ended the day as he started it, with a five-stroke lead after the third round of the season-opening Mercedes Championship. He closed in on the eighth victory in his past 27 starts on the PGA Tour by carding a five-under-par 68 on the Kapalua Resort's Plantation course, which played longer than usual following heavy overnight rain.

He stood at 21-under, 198 with one round left, while Fred Funk was next at 203 after a 68. Billy Mayfair, who carded a 69, was another stroke behind after Saturday's play.

Tiger Woods excited his gallery with six birdies for a flawless 67, but it was only enough to move him into a tie for fourth with Jim Furyk and Vijay Singh, seven strokes off the lead.

Duval's round included six birdies and one bogey, his only blemish coming at the par-four 16th where he drove into a fairway bunker, ending a run of 44 holes without a bogey.

"Anytime you make five or six birdies in a round you can't complain," said Duval, who had 10 birdies in his course-record tying second round.