KOHLER, Wisconsin, (Reuters) – American Nick Watney  broke free of the chasing pack to open up a three-stroke lead  after the third round of the U.S. PGA Championship at Whistling  Straits yesterday.

Watney made eight birdies and two bogeys in a superb round  of 66 to head into the final day leading at 13-under-par after  a perfect sunny afternoon on the shores of Lake Michigan that  proved ideal for low scoring.

More than 50 players finished under par with nine within  five strokes of Watney, setting the stage for a dramatic final  day to the last major of the year.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy underlined his reputation  as one of the top emerging players in world golf with a 67 to  end the round at 10 under, tied for second with big-hitting  American Dustin Johnson, who also carded a 67.

China’s Liang Wenchong shot a flawless round of eight under  64 to better the course record jointly held by Darren Clarke  and Miguel-Angel Jimenez and join Australia’s Jason Day (66)  and Germany’s Martin Kaymer (67) at nine under.

Australia’s Steve Elkington, who won the PGA Championship  15 years ago, wound back the clock to reach eight under and  join the American trio of Jim Furyk (70), Zach Johnson (69) and  Jason Dufner (69).

American Tom Lehman, this year’s Senior PGA champion, also  struck one for the older generation with the shot of the day, a  hole in one on the par-three 17th.