LEMONT, September 17, 2011 (AFP) - Justin Rose fired a two-under par 69 while top rivals faltered on Saturday, leaving the Englishman with a four-shot lead after the third round of the $8 million US PGA Tour BMW Championship.
Britain's Rose finished 54 holes on 13-under par 200 to seize command at the penultimate event of the US PGA playoffs, while his 36-hole co-leader, American Mark Wilson, struggled to a 77 to stumble back into a share of seventh.
Another American, Webb Simpson, was only two shots back when the day began but a double bogey at 17 dropped him to a 73 for the day and six adrift for the tournament.
Rose sank back-to-back birdie putts at the fourth and fifth holes, took a bogey at the par-3 12th but answered it with a birdie on the very next hole and parred his way to the clubhouse on a cool and breezy day at Cog Hill.
"I was aware that it was a pretty tricky day and guys weren't going low," Rose said. "Pretty happy to get it in where I was."
Australian John Senden, fighting to qualify for the Presidents Cup, fired a 70 to grab second on 204, one stroke ahead of American Bill Haas and Aussie Geoff Ogilvy, also trying to secure Presidents Cup and Tour Championship spots.
"I'm trying not to think about it but it creeps into your mind," Ogilvy said.
Rose won titles last year at the US PGA Memorial and National events but has struggled to close out victories, squandering a three-stroke lead to lose at Hartford last year but winning by one at the National after leading by four.
"I've been there a little bit last year - won one, lost one when I was in a situation like this, so I've got some good experience on which to count," Rose said.
"Just keep seeing good shots and keep playing one shot at a time. I don't think you can get defensive. A four-shot lead isn't really a big enough lead to waste holes."
Only the top 30 players in season points after this week's 70-man event will advance to next week's season-ending Tour Championship, where the $10 million playoff prize will be awarded. Ogilvy stood 26th in projected points.
"After three rounds, I'm in reasonable shape," Ogilvy said. "If I have a good round tomorrow, I'll be golfing again next week."
Rose and Senden look to have jumped into the top 30 if they can avoid a last-day collapse while South Korean Yang Yong-Eun clings to the 30th and last Tour Championship spots based on current position.
A victory next week by any of the top five players in points would secure the playoff prize, while the other 25 qualifiers will need help to move into the top spot even with a triumph.
Sunday also marks the end of qualifying for November's Presidents Cup at Australia's Royal Melbourne Golf Club, with 10 of 12 players on the US and Internationals lineups being set on points after the BMW's final round.
"The Presidents Cup surely has to be a bigger deal," Ogilvy said. "Those team events are really special.
"And I've got a house that backs onto the course. It's a special place, Royal Melbourne, and it would be really special to play in the Presidents Cup there."
Ogilvy needs a top 25 showing to secure a Presidents Cup spot while Senden would need a victory to earn a place on points. Those who do not can only hope to be a captain's choice of Greg Norman.
The only other player near what they need to bump into the Internationals lineup is Aussie Robert Allenby, who needs a top-five showing and stood in a share of 17th on 211 after struggling to a 75.
Leading scores on Saturday after the third round of the $8 million US PGA Tour BMW Championship (USA unless noted, par-71):
200 - Justin Rose (GBR) 63-68-69
204 - John Senden (AUS) 68-66-70
205 - Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 69-68-68, Bill Haas 70-66-69
206 - Webb Simpson 65-68-73
207 - Keegan Bradley 71-66-70
208 - Sergio Garcia (ESP) 69-72-67, Luke Donald (GBR) 75-66-67, Brandt Jobe 75-64-69, Jim Furyk 68-70-70, Mark Wilson 65-66-77
209 - Martin Laird (GBR) 72-69-68, Chez Reavie 69-70-70
210 - Jason Dufner 71-68-71, David Toms 71-66-73, Brandt Snedeker 71-66-73
211 - Chad Campbell 69-70-72, Zach Johnson 69-70-72, KJ Choi (KOR) 67-71-73, Gary Woodland 70-68-73, Robert Allenby (AUS) 69-67-75
...
212 - YE Yang (KOR) 70-72-70, Camilo Vilegas (COL) 73-68-71
213 - Brendon de Jonge (ZIM) 75-64-74
214 - Carl Pettersson (SWE) 70-72-72, Robert Karlsson (SWE) 69-71-74
215 - Jason Day (AUS) 77-65-73, Fredrik Jacobson (SWE) 72-73-70
216 - Marc Leishman (AUS) 71-71-74, Andres Romero (ARG) 77-66-73, Brian Davis (GBR) 74-70-72
217 - Aaron Baddeley (AUS) 71-71-75, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 73-68-76, Ernie Els (RSA) 72-71-74
218 - Adam Scott (AUS) 74-70-74
219 - Rory Sabbatini (RSA) 72-69-78
220 - Jhonattan Vegas (VEN) 73-73-74
226 - Vijay Singh (FIJ) 76-75-75