BBC SPORT | Special Events | 2001 | USPGA | Toms takes charge at USPGA

And for good measure he holed a 20-foot putt for a birdie at the 18th to card a five-under 65 and move to 14-under for the championship - two strokes clear of Mickelson.

Toms' 15th-hole feat was not the first hole-in-one of the day, though, as Briton Nick Faldo had pulled off a similar feat at the fourth in the morning.

Tiger Woods' chances of a hat-trick of USPGA titles were effectively ended earlier in the day when he failed to make his expected charge after an erratic third round 69 at the Atlanta Athletic Club.

Phil Mickelson plays out of a bunker during his third round
Mickelson masters the sand

Joint overnight leader Shingo Katayama of Japan - who entertained the crowd with an unorthodox 69 that saw him skip out of the water onto the green at 18 - is in third place on 10-under, alongside Steve Lowery, who shot 66.

And David Duval remains dangerously poised in fifth spot on nine-under after a 67.

If Toms' hole-in-one was the shot of the day from the leading players, it was Mickelson who put the most impressive run together with some magnificent golf in the middle of his round.

Mickelson, who has inherited Duval's tag as the "best player not to have won a Major", had a rollercoaster start to the day.

He birdied the first, then recorded an ugly double-bogey at the third.

Tiger Woods reacts to a missed putt during his third round
Late bogeys spoilt Tiger's day

But that six only served to inspire his best form as majestic iron play brought him six birdies in the next 12 holes and a two-shot lead in the final Major of the year.

Mickelson dropped shots at the short 15th and 17th to surrender the lead to Toms - but a birdie at 16 at least kept him in contention as he carded his third successive round of 66.

Davis Love III posted the best round of the day with a 65 - a figure later matched by Toms. He improved to seven-under par after four birdies in five holes on the back nine.

Earlier, Woods seemed to be finally getting his USPGA campaign on track - before he came unstuck with bogeys on the last two holes to card a one-under par 69.

Woods had shown some of the form that clinched him the Grand Slam earlier this year, with an eagle on the 416-yard ninth hole and a difficult birdie on the 15th.

David Duval in action during the third round
Duval is poised for a final day push

There was disappointment for Faldo, whose indifferent round was temporarily lifted by his superb hole-in-one.

But the ace at the 204 yard fourth was cancelled out by a double bogey on the tricky 15th.

It was a miserable day for two other experienced British competitors, as Colin Montgomerie and Ian Woosnam both suffered terrible ends to their rounds to lie at four over.

Woosnam dropped a shot at both the 16th and 17th, while a double bogey at the last ruined Monty's round, a 74 taking him to four-over - the same score as Woosnam.


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