Micheel pegged back

Micheel showed signs of nerves down the stretch at Oak Hill More photos from Saturday R3 as it happened

Shaun Micheel fell back into a tie for the third-round lead at the USPGA on Saturday as Tiger Woods' hopes of clinching at least one major for the fifth straight year all but vanished.

The unfancied Micheel, two ahead of the field at the halfway stage, stretched his lead to a convincing four strokes before bogeying his last three holes for a one-under-par 69.

That left him in a share of the lead at four under with fellow American Chad Campbell, who holed a 30-foot birdie putt at the last for a 65, the best round of the tournament so far.

Mike Weir, chasing his second major of the year after his victory at the Masters, was a further three strokes back in third, after returning a level-par 70, while South African Tim Clark was alone in fourth on level par after a 68.

The 34-year-old Micheel, playing in only his third major, looked like he might let his nerves get the better of him when he smashed his drive at the 1st into a tree down the left side of the fairway.

USPGA LEADERBOARD -4 Chad Campbell (US), Shaun Micheel (US) -1 Mike Weir (Can) Even Tim Clark (SA) +1 Ernie Els (SA), Alex Cejka (Ger), Briny Baird (US), Billy Andrade (US) Full third round scores

But he bounced back with three consecutive birdies from the 7th. And when two more birdies came on the back nine, the 169th-ranked Micheel found himself at seven under and four shots clear.

But three poor tee shots down the stretch brought three straight bogeys - and Micheel must now regain his composure if he is to win an improbable first major title.

World number two Ernie Els is among a group of four players at one over, after mixing three birdies with three dropped shots on his way to a level-par 70.

But world number one Tiger Woods is 13 shots off the pace after another frustrating round that mixed wayward driving with some inspired scrambling.

His three-over-par 73, which could have been much worse, left him in a share of 43rd at nine over.

The 27-year-old American had been chasing his ninth career major this week, and his first since last year's US Open.

I've putted well, but par putts are not going to get it done - if you are a little off here, that's it Tiger Woods More reaction from Oak Hill

But Woods will now have to rediscover his best form just to avoid his worst finish at a major since turning professional in 1996.

Germany's Alex Cejka, the best-placed European, is among those who need Micheel and Campbell to buckle over the final 18 holes to have a chance.

Now a member of the US circuit after coming through the qualifying school last September, the former Volvo Masters champion rolled in an 18-foot birdie putt on the last to complete a 68 for a one-over-par aggregate of 211.

He is joint fifth with Els, Briny Baird and Billy Andrade.

Of the remaining Europeans, Ireland's Padraig Harrington recovered from a scrappy start to shoot 69. But having survived the cut with nothing to spare at eight over he was still only seven over.

Playing partner Gary Evans had a 71 for nine over, the same total as English compatriot Ian Poulter, while Paul Casey dropped three shots in the last two holes for a 75 and 13 over aggregate.

The leading British player is Luke Donald. The US-based Englishman is on six over after a birdie at the last gave him a 71.