CLEARWATER: Jim Furyk, who is seeking his first win since the 2007 Canadian Open, made consecutive birdies on the back nine to build a three-shot lead at the PGA Transitions Championship on Saturday.

Furyk shot a bogey-free four-under 67 to pull away from the pack and take his first 54-hole lead in nearly three years at 11-under 202. “I was real happy with the back nine. I felt like I played solid on the front,” said American Furyk. “I was happy with the way I controlled the golf ball. I knocked in some putts, which helps.”

Furyk has not won in 58 tournaments making it the longest drought of his career since he was a tour rookie. Furyk still has his work cut out for him on Sunday. Defending champion Retief Goosen of South Africa and past winners KJ Choi of South Korea and Sweden’s Carl Pettersson were in a group at 205. “It was just fun to see some putts go in,” said Furyk. “The difference in the back nine and the front nine was I saw a few more putts go in on the back side.”

Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington made bogey on 18 to finish with a 72 and is tied for sixth. Harrington moved to seven-under 206. “It’s obviously only one person, so that’s not so bad,” Harrington said. “I don’t want to give Jim a four-shot lead over a four-round tournament, let alone one round. There’s enough guys behind that somebody is going to shoot a good score and put some pressure on him. Hopefully it’s me.”

Furyk last had a 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour at Colonial three years ago, when he lost a playoff to South Africa’s Rory Sabbatini. Saturday’s turning point came early on the back nine. He hit a brilliant tee shot on the par-three 15 to 14 feet and then made the birdie which gave him a two-stroke lead.

He also had a bit of luck. On No 16, a poor tee shot hit a tree and bounced back onto the fairway instead of going in the water.

He made par and did the same on his final two holes of the round to take at least a share of the third round lead for the 15th time in his career. “I was just trying to get close,” admitted Furyk. “That’s always fun.”