Donald will partner Tiger Woods in the final pair on Sunday

The pair will start locked on 14 under but the Englishman will be aware that Woods has won all his 11 majors when leading going into the final round.

"He doesn't want to ruin that record," said Donald, 28.

"Maybe I can use that to my advantage and just sneak by without anyone noticing and pick up the trophy."

Interview: Luke Donald

If Donald were to triumph, he would be the first British major winner since Paul Lawrie clinched the Open in 1999, and he would become the USPGA's first European-born winner since Britain's Tommy Armour in 1930.

This is what I need to do if I want to realise my dream and try and become the best player in the world Luke Donald

But Donald, the world number 11, is only playing in his 16th major and has a best finish of third, seven shots adrift, in the 2005 Masters.

That compares to Woods, the world number one, who is seeking a second straight major after winning the Open at Hoylake, and a 12th in all to take him to outright second on the all-time list behind Jack Nicklaus (18).

"I've not really contended in a major before," said Donald, who lives in nearby Chicago and was a star player at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

"This will be a little different pressure, but it's what I practise for. Playing with Tiger in the last round of a major, especially in Chicago where I've been living for the last nine years, is going to be quite a thrill.

"Tiger is a phenomenal player and he brings with him a huge crowd that's very noisy and moving around and that has its distractions. I've just got to go out there and play my own game. I've not got to watch Tiger.

"This is where I want to be. This is what I need to do if I want to realise my dream and try and become the best player in the world."

At some point, he's [Woods] not going to win one when he's leading Geoff Ogilvy

Woods, though, remains red-hot favourite to win his fourth major in his last eight starts and his sixth title this year in 13 starts worldwide.

"It's nice to be in the last group where if the guys make birdies, which you know they are going to do, you have the same opportunity to make birdies on those same holes," said the 30-year-old American.

But at least five other players will fancy their chances of nicking the victory in the year's final major.

"At some point, he's [Woods] not going to win one when he's leading," said Australia's US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy.

"He's not going to go his whole career, hopefully, leading after three rounds and winning. Someone is going to beat him one day. That would be a pretty good feather in your cap."

Canada's 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir equalled Woods' third-round 65 and is two shots off the pace at 12 under.

Ogilvy, 29, is one shot further back, with 2003 USPGA winner Shaun Micheel and Spain's Sergio Garcia on 10 under and Korea's KJ Choi nine under.

World number two Phil Mickelson, the defending champion and Masters winner, is six shots off the pace at eight under alongside fellow Americans Tim Herron and Open runner-up Chris DiMarco and England's Ian Poulter.

But for this quartet the horse may have already bolted.