KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Rory McIlroy had quite a start to his third round Saturday in the PGA Championship.
Birdie, birdie, ball in tree.
Moments later, he was atop the leaderboard.
McIlroy saved par on the third hole after his tee shot became stuck in a tree, and aside from that adventure, he wasn't having much trouble with Kiawah Island's Ocean Course on the front nine. He ended up with birdies on five of his first eight holes and led outright before a bogey at No. 9 dropped him to 6-under par, tied at the top with Vijay Singh.
Tiger Woods, who entered the day with a share of the lead, was moving in the wrong direction. After three bogeys in the first seven holes, he trailed by five strokes when play was halted because of storms.
Adam Scott, who lost the British Open by bogeying the last four holes, was in second place, a stroke behind the leaders. Carl Pettersson was another shot back.
After two birdies to start, McIlroy's tee shot on No. 3 somehow got lodged in the thick branch of a tree in the middle of the fairway. After searching for a bit, McIlroy realized where his ball was. He pulled it out, took a drop — and got up and down for par, sinking a 6-foot putt.
The windy second round Friday was the toughest at the PGA Championship since the tournament switched to stroke play, with 41 players failing to break 80. A battered group of golf's top players found milder conditions Saturday, which was hot and clear before the sky darkened in the afternoon. The course was set up at 7,451 yards, the shortest it's been so far.
Woods entered the day with a share of the lead at 4 under, but Singh moved ahead of him with a birdie on the par-4 first hole.
Woods, trying for his 15th major championship and first since 2008, missed the fairway with his first drive, and his ball nestled down in the rough to the left. He was able to reach the green with his next shot, though, and settled for par after missing a 10-foot birdie putt.
On the third hole, Woods missed a 4-foot birdie putt, and he made a mess of the fourth, twice hitting into the gallery en route to the first of two straight bogeys.
The seventh hole wasn't any better. Woods was in the sand twice and took another bogey. Play was suspended before he finished No. 8.
Earlier, players took advantage of more favorable conditions. Bo Van Pelt and Steve Stricker shot 5-under 67s — two strokes better than anyone managed in the second round. Van Pelt moved to 3 under, a stroke ahead of Stricker.
Trevor Immelman also was 3 under.
After a fairly tame first round, the wind arrived in earnest Friday, when there were more rounds in the 90s (two) than in the 60s. Singh managed a 69 in the second round, but he was an exception.
Woods had a share of the lead at the U.S. Open this summer until rounds of 75-73 plunged him into a tie for 21st.