Woods Is Making Memorable Defense

Ernie Els thought he had seen it all. He has had four sensational battles with Tiger Woods since 1998, but could only watch during the third round of the Memorial Tournament Saturday at Dublin, Ohio, as Woods manhandled Muirfield Village for a seven-under-par 65 to build the largest 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour in two years.

“He’s just awesome, man,” Els said.

Woods will be paired today with Steve Lowery, who birdied the 18th for a 66 that left him six strokes behind.

“I’d have to bet on Tiger,” said Lowery, whose only PGA Tour victory came six years ago.

Woods made his first bogey in 48 holes on No. 18, but still was at 17-under 199 and has plenty of room for error as he tries to become the first repeat champion in the 25-year history of the Memorial.

The six-stroke lead is the largest on tour for 54 holes since David Duval led by seven in Tucson in 1998.

If (when?) Woods wins, it will be his first successful title defense since he turned pro.

“It would be nice to get that over with, and then I don’t have to hear any more questions about it,” he said.

Justin Leonard made an ace on No. 8 and had a 66. It was as good as Leonard has felt about his results all year, and the fact he was seven strokes behind was not about to spoil his mood.

The same can’t be said for Harrison Frazar, who started the third round one stroke behind Woods, and Els, who is trying to win for the first time in more than a year.

By the time they walked off the seventh green, Woods had a 10-stroke advantage over Els and was six ahead of Frazar.

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Defending champion Kelli Kuehne shrugged off an opening double bogey and went on to shoot an impressive 67 to take a one-shot lead over Betsy King after three rounds of the LPGA Corning Classic in Corning, N.Y.

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Larry Nelson shot a six-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead over Tom Watson heading into the final round of the Senior PGA Tour’s Boone Valley Classic at Augusta, Mo.

Nelson, the 1998 winner, had seven birdies and a bogey for a 12-under 132 total.

Watson, who started the day two strokes behind Nelson, shot a 65.