Andrew Magee shot an eight-under-par 64 to lead the Bob Hope Classic in California by four strokes after three rounds. Magee's total of 21 under par set 54-hole tournament record and kept him four shots ahead of Stewart Cink, who shot 67 yesterday, and Mark O'Meara, who had a 65.

Four players were a stroke farther back at 16 under, including David Duval, who hasn't been out of the top 10 in a tournament since the end of September, and Fred Couples, who played a very limited schedule last year.

Magee was the first-round leader after an opening 63 at Indian Wells Country Club, but said that his 64 yesterday at the more difficult Palmer course at PGA West was a much better round.

The first four rounds of the 90hole Bob Hope are played on a rotation of four desert courses, PGA West, Indian Wells, La Quinta and the host course, Bermuda Dunes, which serves as the sole venue for tomorrow's fifth and final round.

Couples moved golf down his priority list last year as his father Tom grew ill with leukemia, and then died on Thanksgiving Day, and his girlfriend received treatment for breast cancer. Couples shot a 66 at Bermuda Dunes yesterday, and has the advantage of playing Indian Wells, the easiest course, today.

"Tomorrow is obviously a big day. If I play well I can keep myself in the tournament or even lead, and if I don't, then it's over. I'm driving well and I'm putting well, and I'm excited about that, because as you know, you have to birdie every other hole out here to have a shot at this thing," Couples said.