Watney takes early lead at PGA event in Boston

American Nick Watney picked up three shots on the first four holes of his third round to storm to the top of the leaderboard at the PGA Tour Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston.

Watney birdied the opening hole and then posted an eagle three on the second to advance to 11-under following two four-under-par rounds of 67.

Compatriot Bubba Watson and Australia’s Adam Scott – two of the three joint overnight leaders – were level par through three holes to lie one shot adrift. The pair were joined by Brandt Snedeker following his birdie on four.

Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, who started the day ten-under with Watson and Scott, bogeyed the third to slip back into a tie for fourth along with England’s world No 1 Luke Donald, American duo Jerry Kelly and Rickie Fowler.

Donald enjoyed a fine start to his round yesterday and was three-under through seven holes, while Kelly and Fowler were two-under after five.

Sweden’s Robert Karlsson was the early clubhouse leader on eight-under after signing for a 64. He was joined on that mark by Australians Jason Day and Geoff Ogilvy and Americans Jim Furyk and Webb Simpson, who were all still on the course.

Four-time major winner Phil Mickelson was a shot back after carding a seven-under-par 63.

Scott carded a 63 on Saturday, the best round of the day, after a bogey-free score featuring six birdies and an eagle.

“I got off to a good start and am playing well,” Scott said. “I’m happy to put myself in the hunt because I need a good week to move up in the FedEx Cup [rankings]. I’m running out of time quick.”

Scott is currently 23rd in the rankings. The Deutsche Bank tournament is the second leg of the season-ending FedEx Cup play-offs. The leading 70 players after today’s final round move on to the BMW Championship in Illinois before the top 30 qualify for the Tour Championship finale at Atlanta.

Schwartzel signed for a 66 on Saturday for the second day in a row. The South African made seven birdies, including six in a seven hole stretch, and two bogeys.

“I felt like I played well but I was very frustrated through the first nine holes,” Schwartzel said. “Then I just got going on my back nine.”

Snedeker enjoyed a hole in one in his second round after striking a perfect tee shot from 146 yards on the par-three 16th hole. “I hit a 9-iron and just flushed it as good as I can hit it,” he said.