Tom Kite birdied three of the last four holes here on Saturday and put himself in position to become the oldest winner in US PGA history, grabbing a one-stroke lead at the Booz Allen Classic. The 55-year-old American, playing in the final season of his top-50 career tour money winners exemption, fired a five-under par 66 in the third round to stand on 10-under par 203 after 54 holes at the five million-dollar event.
"I'm ecstatic with the position I'm in," Kite said. "I have confidence in myself. When I play well, I'm good. I'm pretty darned good. I just haven't played well. Maybe I'm a little surprised, but I'm not bowled over."
Kite, seeking a 20th career US PGA title and the life exemption it brings, has not won a US PGA Tour event since 1993 in Los Angeles. If he wins, Kite was shatter the oldest winner mark set by Sam Snead at 52 years and 318 days.
"The only reason that I took this little challenge to come back and play was to put myself in a position to see what I could do, to see if I had what it takes to contend, to possibly win a golf tournament," Kite said.
Sharing second on 204 were England's Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, Australians Adam Scott, Stuart Appleby and Steve Elkington and South African Ernie Els, who won the 1997 US Open on this Congressional Country Club course.
"I haven't been in contention for a while so it's nice to be up there, especially on a golf course that I really like," Els said. "I'm in pretty good position."
Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia are among nine others on 205. In all, 20 rivals are within three strokes of Kite entering the final round.
"It's going to be an exciting day with so many guys up there," Mickelson said. "I'm going to try to go low early because it's going to be a shootout. So many guys that are right there. Somebody is going to get hot."
Third-ranked Els made four birdies on the front nine to give himself a chance at winning the final tuneup for next week's US Open. But he knows Kite is a sentimental favourite.
"I think it's wonderful," Els said. "Tom obviously is still striking it great and obviously making some putts this week."
Kite, who won the 1992 US Open and this event in 1987, will miss the US Open for the first time since 1973 after failing to qualify last Monday at nearby Rockville.
He will try to qualify for next month's British Open as well as well as play on the over-50 tour, where most events only last 54 holes.
"If this was the Champions Tour, they would be giving me the trophy now," Kite said. "It's supposed to end after three rounds, isn't it?"
Kite birdied the 15th after landing the ball three feet from the cup with a pitching wedge, made a 35-foot birdie putt over a ridge on 17 and dropped a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th.
"I feel very confident with my putting stroke right now," Kite said. "I feel very comfortable like I'm going to make it every time I stand over a putt."
Only Kite's finishing birdie prevented what would have been the tour's biggest-ever logjam for the lead after 54 holes. Kite knows having so many foes so close will make his title dream difficult to achieve. "It's going to be hard. There's probably not 70 out there that have a chance to win, but it's probably close to that, maybe 50," Kite said.
Hot temperatures and evening thunderstorms earlier in the week have made Congressional easier for Kite to handle. "The rain has softened it up a bit this week," Kite said. "It has taken the teeth out of Congressional. That has helped me through it." Defending champion Scott chipped in for a birdie at 18 to join the pack on Kite's heels.
"Tomorrow is going to be great out here," Scott said. "There are so many great players in the hunt. It's going to be 'throw the balls up in the air.'"
LEADING SCORES (USA UNLESS NOTED):
204 - Annika Sorenstam (SWE) 68-67-69
209 - Young Kim (KOR) 73-68-68
211 - Jeong Jang (KOR) 71-71-69, Laura Davies (GBR) 67-70-74, Moira Dunn 71-68-72, Natalie Gulbis 67-71-73, Michelle Wie 69-71-71
212 - Lorena Ochoa (MEX) 72-72-68, Marisa Baena (COL) 70-69-73
213 - Jennifer Rosales (PHI) 71-73-69, Carin Koch (SWE) 74-70-69, Cristie Kerr 74-72-67, Mee Lee (KOR) 70-71-72
214 - Karen Stupples (GBR) 72-71-71, Gloria Park (KOR) 71-71-72, Heather Bowie 72-71-71
215 - Kristi Albers 70-72-73, Angela Stanford 69-73-73, Lindsey Wright (AUS) 71-72-72, Paula Creamer 68-73-74, Laura Diaz 67-72-76, Liselotte Neumann (SWE) 70-71-74, Rosie Jones 72-69-74
216 - Tina Fischer (GER) 68-71-77
217 - AJ Eathorne (CAN) 74-73-70
218 - Catriona Matthew (GBR) 75-74-69, Candie Kung (TPE) 72-73-73, Rachel Hetherington (AUS) 74-71-73, Sung Ah Yim (KOR) 68-74-76, Mi Hyun Kim (KOR) 69-75-74, Il Mi Chung (KOR) 71-68-79
219 - Aree Song (KOR) 70-79-70, Johanna Head (GBR) 75-74-70, Jimin Kang (KOR) 73-74-72, Hee-Won Han (KOR) 73-74-72, Janice Moodie (GBR) 73-72-74
220 - Paula Marti (ESP) 74-72-74, Suzann Pettersen (NOR) 72-72-76, Sae-Hee Son (KOR) 73-69-78, Nicole Perrot (CHI) 72-68-80
221 - Karrie Webb (AUS) 74-75, Wendy Doolan (GBR) 78-71-72, Shi Hyun Ahn (KOR) 78-71-72, Joanne Morley (GBR) 72-74-75, Ju-Yun Kim (KOR) 72-72-77
222 - Dawn Coe-Jones (CAN) 79-70-73, Maria Hjorth (SWE) 70-77-75
224 - Lorie Kane (CAN) 75-74-75
225 - Candy Hannemann (BRA) 74-75-76, Nadina Taylor (AUS) 71-77-77, Yu Ping Lin (TPE) 71-76-78
226 - Katherine Hull (AUS) 74-75-77.