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Graeme McDowell was the injury replacement for Tiger Woods at Chevron.
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Graeme McDowell received a last-minute invite to replace injured host Tiger Woods and is making the most of it.
McDowell, No. 55 in the World Golf Rankings, burned up the back nine Saturday at Sherwood Country Club and finished with a 6-under-par 66 to gain a share of the lead with PGA champion Y.E. Yang after three rounds of the Chevron World Challenge. The duo are deadlocked at 10-under 206.
Lee Westwood (69) and former winner Padraig Harrington (70) are one stroke back. Jim Furyk (67) and Ian Poulter (71) trail by two.
Playing in cool, cloudy conditions, McDowell played the 10th through 15th holes with four birdies, an eagle and a par. Highlights included a 19-foot eagle putt at the par-5 12th and a 60-foot birdie putt at the par-3 15th. He also made a clutch 15-foot par save at the 18th.
"It was a good day," McDowell said. "No complaints. You know, this is very tough to get everything out of the run very often, but I'll take that and run today."
Yang, who began the third-round with a two-stroke cushion, struggled early but rebounded for a 1-under 71. Only once previously has he held or shared a 54-hole lead in a PGA Tour event. That happened last March when he went on to win the Honda Classic for his first U.S. victory.
"Obviously I'm not 100 percent in condition right now, but overall I feel good about being on top of the leader board," said Yang, who has been suffering from flu-like symptoms.
Sunday's winner will collect $1.35 million. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Tiger Woods Foundation.