• US PGA Championship, Round Three

Liang springs massive surprise at Whistling Straits

Wenchong Liang tore up the course to card a 64 © Getty Images

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Nick Watney put himself in a great position to win his first Major title, while Rory McIlroy made his move and Wenchong Liang came from nowhere to fire himself into contention on an astonishing day of golf at Whistling Straits.

Watney is well set to end his fabulous week in the best possible way. He found early momentum, draining two birdies on his first two holes and the American visibly grew in confidence as a result. A bogey at the par four eighth checked his progress but he continued to pick up shots on the back nine to leave himself in an enviable position heading into the final round - out on his own on 13-under-par.

McIlroy appeared to thrive in the more helpful conditions. The Northern Irishman hit some booming drives to leave himself with a hatful of chances to make birdies. Three arrived on the front nine but he did drop a shot on the eighth to highlight his susceptibility to patches of inconsistency.

However, he did not drop a shot coming in to sign for a 67 and, considering he is only three adrift of Watney, he will fancy his chances come Sunday.

In far more benign conditions, birdie chances were no longer at a premium and the leaders did their upmost to cash in.

Nobody took more advantage than Liang, who reeled off birdies left right and centre to remind everybody what he can do when his game is in good order.

After starting his round somewhat conservatively - parring the first four holes, the floodgates opened. The 32-year-old hit a glut of birdies - eight in all -and did not drop a shot to sign off with a eye-catching 64.

England's Simon Dyson shot a magnificent 68 to enhance his chances of winning the tournament. He reached the turn in 35 but four birdies from his next seven holes transformed his round - although a dropped shot at the last will have rankled.

Not everybody prospered in the sunshine. Tiger Woods could not get going on the front nine and three bogeys left him with a mountain to climb. His form down the stretch greatly improved and a biride, birdie finish saw him sign off with a 70 but another Major championship appears to have slipped by for the world No. 1.

Ernie Els put his nightmare second round of 74 behind him with a stellar display of golf. A birdie at the first will have helped to banish his demons from the previous round but a bogey three holes later would not have been on his wish-list. Another bogey sandwiched four birdies on the back nine but the South African put himself back among the contenders with a 69.

Australia's Jason Day found the consistency that had been lacking in his previous two rounds to propel himself among the chasing pack. He sunk six birdies but the fact that he did not drop a shot will have pleased him even more.

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