American journeyman Robert Garrigus, who is still shrugging off a bout of food poisoning, upstaged his more illustrious rivals to take a two-shot lead in the third round of the St. Jude Classic on Saturday.
Two strokes off the pace overnight in the final PGA Tour event before next week's U.S. Open, Garrigus fired a sparkling four-under-par 66 on a sizzling hot day at the TPC Southwind.
He bogeyed the par-four last after pushing his tee shot into the right rough and missing the green with his approach, but retained overall control with an 11-under total of 199.
Garrigus, who has limited playing status on the PGA Tour this season and is seeking his first victory on the US circuit, covered the back nine in four-under 31 after an eagle on the par-five 16th.
Swede Robert Karlsson, the European number one in 2008 who was sidelined four months last year because of an eye problem, chipped in for birdie from just off the 18th green for a 68 to lie second.
British world number three Lee Westwood, co-leader overnight, battled to a 71 and was a further stroke back at eight under with American Heath Slocum (66).
"I didn't know what anybody was doing behind me," Garrigus told reporters. "I was just concentrating on my game, which I should probably do tomorrow."
The 32-year-old, who has missed four cuts in seven PGA Tour starts this season, was especially delighted with his display after succumbing to food poisoning last week.
"I really didn't feel good the first three days here," said Garrigus, who pulled out of a US Open sectional qualifier on Monday after just seven holes.
Paying off
"I didn't have any energy, didn't have enough fluids. It was brutal but I got some good rest. I came out fresh and now it''s paying off."
Westwood, hunting his first PGA Tour title since the 1998 New Orleans Classic, led overnight with American Garrett Willis but slipped back with two bogeys in the last five holes.
"I didn't play particularly well, and didn''t hit the ball very well," the Englishman said after recording four bogeys and three birdies. "I wasn't in control of my swing that much. A 71 seems almost like a victory, really."
With Westwood and Willis each stumbling early in the third round, seven players had a share of the tournament lead before Garrigus took control after the turn.
He birdied the 11th and 12th to edge one ahead before rolling in a 20-footer down the hill at the par-four 15th to double his advantage.
At the par-five 16th, Garrigus struck a superb six-iron from 196 yards to five feet to set up his eagle and forge four strokes clear.
However, the American succumbed to a two-shot swing at the last where he bogeyed and his playing partner Karlsson birdied for his lead to be halved.
