Wagner in slim lead

Johnson Wagner retained the lead after the third round at the Shell Houston Open, but Chad Campbell and Bob Estes surged up to challenge him.

Wagner carded a three-under-par 69 to move to 15 under par, with Campbell one shot behind after a seven-under 65 and Estes two further back after a 64 - alongside Charley Hoffman.

Wagner entered the third round with a three-stroke lead but started slowly, making three pars before a birdie on the fourth. He then shot a bogey five on the fifth when he missed a six-foot par putt.

“I was definitely nervous starting the day,” he said.

“I had some good chances early. But putts weren’t really falling, and I made a bad bogey on five.”

Wagner responded with three birdies in four holes from the ninth through to the 12th.

“I really held it together, hit a bunch of greens – and didn’t really have to work too hard,” he added.

Estes, who began the round eight strokes behind, erased five of them with a front-nine 31. Three straight birdies then followed from the 11th to the 13th.

Campbell caught Wagner at 12 under when he holed out with a wedge from 88 yards - and then again at 13, 14 and 15 under – until he made a bogey on the 17th, failing to get up and down from a greenside bunker.

Fred Couples, who was in a tie for 36th, pulled even with six others for 10th by signing for a 67.

Phil Mickelson, the highest-ranked player in the field, carded a one under 71 to be 22nd.

With no realistic chance to win, Mickelson is already looking to next week and The Masters at Augusta.

“I’m going to try to get a good solid round and see if I can make some birdies and get momentum for next week’s Masters,” he said.