Matteson takes lead in Florida

Troy Matteson is on the verge of back-to-back victories on the PGA Tour after taking the third-round lead at the Funai Classic at Walt Disney World.

The 26-year-old former three-time all-American, who scored his first tour victory in Las Vegas last weekend, continued his sizzling form on Saturday with a seven-under-par 65 in ideal conditions on the Magnolia course, moving to 19-under 197.

“I’ve just kept doing what I was doing last week, driving the ball well,” Matteson said.

Matteson finished in style, stiffing an 8-iron at the last hole for birdie to close one stroke better than veteran Joe Durant, who fired a 64.

Justin Rose, who enjoyed a four-shot halfway lead, could not keep up the crackling pace, firing a 72 to fall two strokes behind in third.

Davis Love (64) and Charles Howell (65) trail by three shots, with three others another stroke back.

Even during the final round last week, Matteson was worried about finishing high enough to keep his card for next year, but he won’t have that concern on Sunday.

“I was worried about my job all day,” he recalled.

“It’s tough when you’re thinking all week, ’I have to finish first or second to keep my card.’ (On Sunday), I should be a little more at ease, knowing things are OK, regardless of what I do.”

With the help of his coach, Matteson turned his game around a couple of months ago. But it took a while for the improvements to translate into better scores.

If Matteson has been white-hot lately, Durant has been quite warm, too, losing a playoff three weeks ago and finishing tied for sixth in his most recent start.

“I played very well today,” said Durant, who is among the tour’s best from tee to green. Putting is usually his weak link, but not this week on a course where he feels very comfortable.

“This is Bermuda grass and that is what I grew up on,” he said.

“The last three tournaments I’ve putted very well. I’m feeling good on the greens right now. It’s been a long time, so it’s nice to make some putts for a change.”

Rose took only five holes and 90 minutes to fritter away his four-shot lead.

Two early bogeys allowed the field back into the hunt before he steadied a ship that was very much in danger of sinking, playing the back nine in two-under.

“It wasn’t great today at all,” said the 26-year-old Englishman, who first burst into prominence at the 1998 British Open at Royal Birkdale, where he finished fourth as a 17-year-old amateur.

“I just wasn’t quite on the boil. I had to be really patient, hang in there, and being 2-over through nine, I felt I did a decent job.”

Rose said his fundamentals, particularly his set-up, had been a little off although he did enough to remain in the hunt for his first tour victory.

He had an eventful time at the par-four 17th, where he nearly found the water after pulling his tee shot.

From there he tried to hook his next shot under a tree and got lucky again as his ball barely stayed out of water to the right of the green.

“I wasn’t going to chip out sideways at that point,” he said, explaining why he tried such an ambitious second shot.

Rose nearly made an unlikely par but missed a six-foot putt. He also missed a birdie chance from a similar distance on the final hole.

“The way the last two holes panned out, it’s a little disappointing,” Rose said.