Chad Campbell found himself in uncharted territory last night, tied for the lead with fellow American Shaun Micheel after the third round of the US PGA Championship at Oak Hill.
Campbell (29), without a win on the PGA Tour, is in only his second season on the circuit and the eighth major of his career.
He missed the cut in five majors before breaking through at this year's US Open, finishing in a tie for 35th place. He then followed up by sharing 15th spot in the British Open.
"I didn't feel like I played that well last year but it gave me a little bit of success," Campbell said after firing a five-under-par 65 for a total of 206, four under.
He could follow in the footsteps of Ben Curtis, who had never won on the PGA Tour before lifting the British Open trophy last month.
The duo lead Canadian Mike Weir by three shots while South African Tim Clark is four off the pace. A group including Ernie Els and Vijay Singh lurk menacingly behind.
Tiger Woods's faint hopes of clinching at least one major title for the fifth consecutive year have disappeared.
The world number one, who began an overcast and damp day nine shots off the lead, battled for accuracy off the tee on his way to a two-over-par 72, only partially offsetting five bogeys with two late birdies. That left him in an early share of 49th at nine-over 219
Padraig Harrington restored some pride with a fine third round of 69.
The Dubliner was the only Irishman to survive the cut after Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke failed to make the grade by a single shot yesterday.
Harrington started the day on eight over - the halfway cut mark - and had a roller-coaster front nine with two birdies and two bogeys before reaching the turn in level 35.
From there the father-to-be picked up birdies at the 10th and 12th and was making inroads at the famous Rochester venue. Only a bogey at the 17th halted Harrington's progress. He is seven-over-par.