Rain makes going tough at Hazeltine

Overnight rain softened the long Hazeltine National course as Tiger Woods prepared to defend a two-shot lead in the final round of the US PGA Championship.

A third of an inch of rain had fallen on the 7,674-yard, par-72 Minnesota course since Woods completed his third-round 71 to reach eight under par for the tournament and close in on a 15th major victory and record-tying fifth US PGA title.

Playing conservative, low-risk golf, the world number one had seen his four-stroke halfway lead cut in half by Korean Y E Yang’s five-under 67, and defending champion Padraig Harrington, whose 69 had been a four-shot improvement on his (Harrington's) second round.

Also within reach of Woods was Henrik Stenson of Sweden and American US Open champion Lucas Glover, a further two shots in arrears at four under par, with Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen and Ernie Els of South Africa at three under.

Woods was paired with Yang for the final round with Harrington partnering Ryder Cup team-mate Stenson in the penultimate group out, and also had history on his side having converted all 14 of his 54-hole major leads into victories.

Having been asked his thoughts about the possibility of tying with Walter Hagen and Jack Nicklaus as five-time winners of the US PGA, Woods warned there was a long way to go before that scenario unfolded.

The rain-softened ground at Hazeltine National was going to make the longest course in major championship history an even longer trek, as the early starters on Sunday were finding out.

With just over a third of the 79-man field out on the course, only American JJ Henry and Denmark’s Soren Hansen were under par, the Dane having birdied the first to get to five over after two holes.

Henry, meanwhile, was at eight over par playing the 12th having carded four birdies and three bogeys.

Phil Mickelson joined them under par for the day.

The world number two, starting at eight over par, had found a way to circumvent his recent putting woes as he holed his opening approach shot for an eagle at the par-four first.

The American returned to level par for his final round with a double bogey at the sixth, but rebounded with a birdie at the ninth to go out in 35.

England’s Luke Donald was level for the day, five over for the week after five holes, while compatriot Chris Wood was one over at the turn, nine over par for the tournament.

Rich Beem, US PGA champion the last time it was played at Hazeltine in 2002, was also one over on the day, seven over after four holes, while Alastair Forsyth of Scotland had slumped to 14 over par after eight holes, seven over for the day.