Donald on course for big pay day

England’s Luke Donald tonight remained firmly in contention for a $11.3m payday in the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

Donald went into the third round at East Lake tied for the lead with playing partner Jim Furyk and had ground out a one-shot advantage after nine holes.

The Ryder Cup star made the ideal start with a superb tee-shot and 10-foot birdie putt on the par-three second, but dropped a shot on the fifth.

A run of three pars were then followed by a birdie on the par-five ninth and saw Donald reach the turn in 34 to lie nine under par.

Furyk was producing some typically consistent golf, the American carding nine straight pars on the front nine to remain eight under, two ahead of Australian Geoff Ogilvy.

Ogilvy appeared to be suffering the effects of barely any sleep after staying up to watch his beloved St Kilda in the AFL Grand Final when he bogeyed the first and ran up a double bogey on the second.

But the former US Open champion hit back with birdies at the fourth and fifth to get back in contention.

The winner of the tournament tomorrow will collect a first prize of $1.3m, with the overall FedEx Cup play-off champion claiming a bonus of $10.1m.