Appleby tops AT&T National leaderboard

Stuart Appleby moved into a two-stroke lead after three rounds of the AT&T National after the Australian shot a two-under-par 68 on Saturday.

Starting the day level with K.J.Choi at the top of the leaderboard, Appleby sank five birdies against three bogeys at the Congressional Country Club to move to nine under par, two shots ahead of the South Korean.

The 36-year-old started in impressive fashion with birdies at three of the first five holes before picking up another stroke at the ninth.

After parring the 10th, he bogeyed the next two before a birdie at the 13th repaired some of the damage.

"I got off to a good start," Appleby said.

"K.J. (Choi) had a bogey and I had a birdie, so we certainly had a swing there.

"I was able to build a bit of a lead but then K.J. started to sneak up behind me and tailgate the last part of the day to close that gap up.

Choi produced an even-par round of 70 after recording four birdies and four bogeys.

The South Korean had made just one birdie in 14 holes but produced three in a row from the 15th to salvage his afternoon.

"Putting was really difficult today," Choi said.

"It was very hard to grasp the speed of the greens. It made the front nine very difficult.

"But luckily, on the back nine I was able to come back nicely on the last three holes."

Steve Stricker lies three behind in third place after signing for a 67 that included five birdies.

The day started in mixed fashion for the American as bogeys at the opening hole and the sixth sandwiched brides at the third and fifth.

But Stricker sank further birdies on the ninth and 10th and closed out his round with another to finish six under par.

"It was a good round," Stricker said.

"It was filled with a lot of opportunities. I didn't take advantage of some on the back nine there but it's tough putting around here, so I didn't feel bad that I wasn't making birdies.

"But I kept giving myself a lot of opportunities and finally was able to sneak one in there on 18."

Canadian Mike Weir is four strokes off the pace after also shooting a 67.

Weir had just two birdies and a bogey but eagled the par-five 16th.

"It was a solid round," he said.

"I got off to a great start, birdieing the first and third, and then the only bogey I made was at the fifth.

"I made that nice eagle on 16. Outside of that, I had some chances to make a few and didn't quite get them in but it's a good round."

Tiger Woods, who is playing in his first tournament since the birth of his daughter on June 18, carded a 69.

He began his round with a birdie but added just one more at the 16th before capping the day with a bogey at the 18th.

"I hit the ball well all day," Woods said.

"I really hit some good shots and I made nothing for birdie, except for the first hole.

"I made a few par putts here and there, which was nice, to keep the momentum going.

"But I hit so many good putts that looked like they were going to go in but just didn't fall."