A record American Major golf victory drought was poised to end as unlikely U.S. heroes Brendan Steele and Jason Dufner topped an American-filled leaderboard on Saturday at the PGA championship.
Steele, trying to become the first man to win a major debut on U.S. soil since Francis Ouimet at the 1913 U.S. Open, and Dufner, winless in six U.S. PGA seasons, shared the lead on seven-under par 203 after 54 holes at Atlanta Athletic Club.
Keegan Bradley, a 25-year-old US PGA rookie who won the Texas Open last April, was third on 204 with Scott Verplank, a 47-year-old veteran with one win in the past decade, was another stroke back in fourth.
Steve Stricker, who matched the low round in major golf history with an opening 63 on Thursday, was fifth on 206 and wary of inexperienced leaders, veterans lurking within reach.
Reigning Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, Australians Adam Scott and John Senden, Swede Robert Karlsson and American David Toms, who shot the day's low of 65, were on 208.
The scores (all USA unless indicated):
203: Brendan Steele (69+68+66), Jason Dufner (70+65+68); 204: Keegan Bradley (71+64+69); 205: Scott Verplank (67+69+69); 206: Steve Stricker (63+74+69); 207: Anders Hansen (Den) (68+69+70), D.A. Points (69+67+71).
