Local favourite Billy Hurley III moved a step closer to a first US PGA Tour victory as he seized a two-shot lead after the third round of the tournament in Maryland.
The 34-year-old American, a US Naval Academy graduate who calls nearby Annapolis his home, fired a flawless four-under-par 67 on a rain-softened layout at Congressional to post a 15 under total of 198.
PGA Tour veteran Ernie Els, seeking a 20th win on the US circuit but his first in four years, was alone in second after shooting a bogey-free 65 with joint second-round leader Jon Rahm of Spain (70) a further stroke back at 12 under.
Hurley, who had been tied for the lead overnight with Rahm, stormed ahead with three birdies on the front nine before picking up another shot after the turn, sinking a 15-footer at the par-four 14th.
Though he failed to reach the green in two at the par-four last after his tee shot found the left rough, he very nearly holed out with a near-perfect chip from 55 feet and tapped in for par to remain two ahead.
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South African Els, whose most recent PGA Tour victory came at the 2012 British Open, holed out from 157 yards to eagle the par-four 12th, then sank a 24-foot birdie putt at the par-four 14th to surge up the leaderboard.
"I enjoyed it," Els, 46, told CBS Sports.
"I'm not the straightest driver but I kept it in play for the most part. The misses I did have weren't too far off and the putter was hot for most of the round.
Aaron Baddeley is the best-placed Australian at six under in a tie for 10th after he rocketed up the leaderboard with a five-under 66 on Saturday.
