Els has started the year in sparkling form

South Africa's Ernie Els established the PGA Tour's 54-hole scoring record but still could not shake off Korean KJ Choi at the Mercedes Championships in Hawaii.

On another ideal day for scoring at Kapalua, the world number three carded an eight-under-par 65 for a two-shot lead over Choi after the third round.

Els double-bogeyed the 17th hole but parred the 18th for a three-round total of 25 under par.

His total was one lower than the record John Cook set at the 1996 St Jude Classic and Mark Calcavecchia matched at the 2001 Phoenix Open.

R1 LEADERBOARD

-25 Ernie Els -23 KJ Choi -18 Retief Goosen -17 Chris Riley, Bob Estes, Jerry Kelly -16 Jim Furyk

Collated scores

"I basically did everything right," said Els. "I hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens. I had quite a fun day up to 17."

Choi, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour last year, ended the day as the only player within six shots of the South African.

The Korean set a Plantation Course record with a bogey-free 11-under-par 62.

Steve Pate shot a 63 in 1997 and David Duval matched it in 1999.

Retief Goosen lies in third place on 18 under, seven behind Els, after a 66, while Bob Estes, Jerry Kelly and Chris Riley are tied for fourth a further shot back.