(Reuters) - Australian Aaron Baddeley charged past PGA Tour veteran Fred Couples with a sizzling front nine to grab a one-shot lead in Saturday's third round of the Northern Trust Open.
Two strokes behind the pacesetting Couples when the delayed second round was completed earlier in the day, Baddeley fired a four-under-par 67 to take control at Riviera Country Club.
The 29-year-old Australian, who has triumphed twice on the PGA Tour but not since the 2007 Phoenix Open, raced to the turn in four-under 31 before posting a 10-under total of 203.
Fan favourite Couples, defying back pain in pursuit of his first victory on the U.S. circuit in eight years, carded a 70 to share second place with fellow American Kevin Na (67).
Former world number one Vijay Singh of Fiji was a further stroke back at eight-under after two birdies in the last three holes earned him a 67.
Couples, long beloved at Riviera where he has won twice, made a good start to the third round, a two-putt birdie at the par-five first keeping him two strokes ahead of the chasing pack at nine-under.
However he was unable to pick up any further shots before reaching the turn one behind the charging Baddeley.
SCORCHING NINE
The Australian had rolled in a 30-footer to birdie the ninth and edge one stroke clear at 10-under after a scorching outward nine that began with a 40-foot birdie putt at the first.
He then picked up another shot at the par-four 10th, where his drive ended up just short of the green, to double his lead.
Although Baddeley collected his only bogey of the day at the par-five 11th, where his first three shots ended up in the right rough, he parred the last seven holes to stay in front.
Singh, who won the most recent of his 34 PGA Tour titles at the 2008 Deutsche Bank Championship, liked his chances going into Sunday's final round at Riviera.
"I'm really fired up for tomorrow," the 47-year-old Fijian said. "I know I have a good position, I'm in a good position to win tomorrow, so we'll see what happens.
"I'm getting it together. I'm hitting more solid shots than I did last year. But I need rounds like this to keep me going."
American world number four Phil Mickelson, winner here in 2008 and 2009, dropped out of contention with a 74 that left him a distant 12 strokes off the pace.
Two strokes behind the pacesetting Couples when the delayed second round was completed earlier in the day, Baddeley fired a four-under-par 67 to take control at Riviera Country Club.
The 29-year-old Australian, who has triumphed twice on the PGA Tour but not since the 2007 Phoenix Open, raced to the turn in four-under 31 before posting a 10-under total of 203.
Fan favourite Couples, defying back pain in pursuit of his first victory on the U.S. circuit in eight years, carded a 70 to share second place with fellow American Kevin Na (67).
Former world number one Vijay Singh of Fiji was a further stroke back at eight-under after two birdies in the last three holes earned him a 67.
Couples, long beloved at Riviera where he has won twice, made a good start to the third round, a two-putt birdie at the par-five first keeping him two strokes ahead of the chasing pack at nine-under.
However he was unable to pick up any further shots before reaching the turn one behind the charging Baddeley.
SCORCHING NINE
The Australian had rolled in a 30-footer to birdie the ninth and edge one stroke clear at 10-under after a scorching outward nine that began with a 40-foot birdie putt at the first.
He then picked up another shot at the par-four 10th, where his drive ended up just short of the green, to double his lead.
Although Baddeley collected his only bogey of the day at the par-five 11th, where his first three shots ended up in the right rough, he parred the last seven holes to stay in front.
Singh, who won the most recent of his 34 PGA Tour titles at the 2008 Deutsche Bank Championship, liked his chances going into Sunday's final round at Riviera.
"I'm really fired up for tomorrow," the 47-year-old Fijian said. "I know I have a good position, I'm in a good position to win tomorrow, so we'll see what happens.
"I'm getting it together. I'm hitting more solid shots than I did last year. But I need rounds like this to keep me going."
American world number four Phil Mickelson, winner here in 2008 and 2009, dropped out of contention with a 74 that left him a distant 12 strokes off the pace.
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