GOLF/Sunshine Tour: A crowd favourite is in contention after 54 holes of the PGA Buick Invitational, but it is not Tiger Woods.

John Daly carded a four-under-par 68 on Saturday - his third straight sub-par round - to leave him just one shot behind co-leaders Jerry Kelly, JL Lewis and former Masters champion Mark O'Meara.

Daly, who tied for fourth at last week's Phoenix Open, has a three-round total of nine-under 207 as he chases his first victory since the 1995 British Open.

"I'm hungry (to win)," Daly said. "I'm just not going to force it. Hopefully, it will just happen. The way I'm thinking and the way I'm able to focus on my game and each shot, I think it will get me through it."

KJ Choi of South Korea and South Africa's Rory Sabbatini are also one shot back of the leaders after shooting 69 and 71 respectively.

Woods, who barely made the cut after shooting a 77 on Friday, rebounded to card a three-under 69 Saturday.

"I hit a lot of good shots," Woods said. "I just didn't get a whole lot out of my round today.

"I threw away some good strokes today. It definitely leaves a bad taste in my mouth."

Kelly started the day tied for 23rd but surged to the top of the leaderboard by posting a six-under 66, the lowest score of the round.

Lewis, whose only career victory came at the 1999 John Deere Classic, started the day tied for first with Kent Jones and maintained a share of the lead with a one-under 71.

After missing the cut in his previous two starts, O'Meara hardly could have been expected to contend this weekend. But he also has posted three sub-par rounds, including a two-under 70 on Saturday.

The south course at Torey Pines was tightened and lengthened by nearly 500 yards after Phil Mickelson's victory last year. It now plays at 7,607 yards, making it the longest course on the PGA Tour.

Richie Coughlan fired a third round 74 to drop to a share of 42nd place.