Golf Central

They've been going on about it for weeks - a brave new dawn for The PGA Tour with 20-something winners in seven of the past eight events. Charles Howell III leads the field at 13-under, with Kenny Perry one shot back and David Toms, Ryan Palmer and Jonathan Byrd breathing down their necks at 13-under.

Howell is looking to make up for the fact that he missed the cut at The Players Championship last weekend. His record for translating a lead into the last day to a tournament victory, however, having failed to do so in three previous attempts.

Bradley Dredge's third round 66 leaves him a shot ahead of the rest at 9-under, with Richard Finch at 8-under, Lee Westwood at 7-under and David Frost, Felipe Aguilar and Robert Karlsson at 6-under.

Gregory Havret rocketed from last place to tied 9th with a scintillating 65, but Lee Westwood went one better with a course record 64. Twenty two players are within six shots of the lead, including Darren Clarke at 3-under, who looked in great shape to challenge for the lead on the final day until a triple-bogey 8 on the 18th. Doh!

Jonathan Byrd takes a three shot lead into the third round after a pair of 66s left him at 12-under, with Kenny Perry and Ryan Palmer tied for second at 9-under. Charles Howell III, David Toms and Parker McLachlin are tied for 4th at 8-under, while Heath Slocum and Camilo Villegas are still in contention at 7-under.

A week after trousering over $1million at The Players Championship, Paul Goydos missed the cut at a testing even par, alongside former two-time winner Zach Johnson, course designer Greg Norman and sadly predictably, David Duval.

Michael Lorenzo-Vera of France leads the field after two rounds at 6-under, the Challenge Tour graduate continuing to show his good form in his first season among the big boys. Waif-like big hitter Marcel Siem is in second place at 5-under, while Richard Green and Pablo Larrazabal share third place at 4-under.

Jarmo Sandelin and Mikko Ilonen both carded impressive 66s, while Barry's Kyron Sullivan had the unfortunate honour of shooting the highest score of the day at 85, which could be good news or bad depending on whether he got a Cup Final ticket.