Pair in front but Woods lurking in Memorial Tournament

Matt Bettencourt and Mark Wilson lead the field after the third round of the Memorial Tournament but three-time champion Tiger Woods is ominously poised four shots off the pace.

Bettencourt, who has managed only one top-25 finish on the PGA Tour, shot a four-under-par round of 67 at Muirfield Village Golf Club today to move to nine under.

Wilson bogeyed the first three holes but recovered impressively from that nightmare start, posting seven birdies and only one bogey for a round of 69.

American pair Jonathan Byrd and Jim Furyk are a shot back after rounds of 71 while the score of the day came from Australian Geoff Ogilvy, who recorded nine birdies and no dropped shots in a brilliant 63 to climb to seven under.

That was the same mark as Davis Love III, who carded a 69.

Woods, who is continuing his comeback after knee surgery, made steady progress throughout the day after bogeying the first hole.

He birdied the second and fifth and moved to four under with an eagle at the par-five 11th. Two more birdies followed but a bogey at the 17th for a 68 took the gloss off somewhat.

That left Woods tied on five under with Matt Kuchar, Michael Letzig and Ernie Els, who carded a one-under 71.

First-round leader Luke Donald stayed just about in contention with a level-par 72 – much better than yesterday’s 76 but still some way off his stunning 64 on Thursday.

That left the Englishman in a tie for 11th with Stewart Cink and Bubba Watson.

World number three Paul Casey’s chances disappeared with a 75, putting him 11 shots off the lead on two over, two better than Ian Poulter.