• WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Round Three

Donald dazzles as Woods wilts at Firestone

Luke Donald was in terrific form with the putter on day three © Getty Images

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World No. 1 Luke Donald sounded a signal of intent ahead of the US PGA Championship by firing a 64 on the third day of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone.

Donald showed why he is regarded as the planet's finest putter by rolling in birdies at will - he claimed seven in all - as he moved to nine-under for the tournament, three away from leader Adam Scott. Ryo Ishikawa and Jason Day are tied for second at 11-under.

England's Donald is a three-time winner this year, clinching the BMW PGA and Scottish titles as well as the WGC Match Play crown, but he failed to fire at the Open Championship last month and will be desperate to push for a first major title at Atlanta.

Meanwhile, the optimism surrounding Tiger Woods' game is beginning to dissipate after he turned in his worst round of the week so far. He has 18 holes remaining before the US PGA starts next week and, on the evidence of this performance, he will not be pushing for the year's final major.

The former world No. 1 was wild from the tee, finding less than 30% of the fairways, and he never got to grips with the greens, taking 33 swings of the short stick. Remarkably, given the state of the rest of his game, his iron play was excellent - the rough is unforgiving at Firestone, but he still managed to hit 72% of the greens in regulation, his best effort of the tournament to date.

What threatened to be an emotional comeback has now spluttered out alarmingly, and Woods' work on Sunday will have no say in the outcome of the tournament, as he is currently at two-over, one shot better than Phil Mickelson, who has played second-fiddle to Woods all week.

Lee Westwood, another former world No.1, has every reason to feel far more positive than Woods about his game ahead of the US PGA, which he missed due to injury in 2010. He was, as usual, phenomenal from tee to green - but managed just three birdies because, as usual, his putter was cold. The Englishman is four-under, while Paul Casey is six-over and Graeme McDowell eight-over.

McDowell's countryman Rory McIlroy continues to chip away at the leaders, once again playing steadily on his way to a 67, his third round in the 60s so far. On this evidence, with five birdies plundered, US Open winner McIlroy will take some beating next week.

Ian Poulter had two sevens and one six on his way to an 80 that puts him ten-over for the tournament. Like Woods, Poulter was spraying it everywhere from the tee - unlike Woods, he was just as bad with the irons, hitting less than a third of the greens in regulation. After a 69 on Friday, it was a chastening day for the Englishman.

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