THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD -7 T Woods (US), K Perry (US) -6 P McGinley (Ire) -5 S Appleby (Aus) -4 JM Olazabal (Sp), S Garcia (Sp)

Woods finished on seven under after 15 holes to share the lead with Kenny Perry, who has one hole to go.

Two delays for thunderstorms caused problems earlier in the day with 20 players still to finish their rounds.

Ireland's Paul McGinley is one stroke behind the leaders with three holes to play but Luke Donald has slipped back.

Perry's first shot when play resumes on Sunday at 1230 BST will be a 10-foot attempt for a birdie on the 18th and a round of 63 while Woods will be heading back into the trees left of the fairway at the long 16th.

The world number one took advantage of perfect morning conditions with three consecutive birdies from the second to reach the turn at three under.

He also managed a birdie on the 13th to move two shots clear of McGinley and Perry.

The day was great. The ending was not. Kenny Perry

But Woods' concentration seemed to be disturbed after a delay of over three hours for thunder and lightning.

He recorded his first bogey of the day at the 15th while Perry had a 10-foot birdie putt at the 17th to tie for the lead and he then found himself in more trouble when he sent his tee shot at the 16th into the trees.

McGinley moved one ahead when he birdied the opening two holes and then picked up further shots at the 10th and 14th, but also bogeyed the 11th after pulling his drive into the rough.

"It's been a really long day, but I'm in it," said the Dubliner. "You're going to see a lot of low scoring with the course softening up after the rain. It's important I keep playing well and keep concentrating."

Lee Westwood had the best round of the day with a seven-under 63 which included six birdies on his outward nine to finish on two under.

But there was disappointment for Donald and fellow Englishman David Howell.

Donald had been joint halfway leader with Woods but by the end of the day was six shots off the lead after four bogeys and a single birdie.