Third round leaderboard:
-16 J Rose (Eng) -13 B Curtis (US) -11 V Taylor (US) -10 M Jones (Aus), R Barnes (US), S McCarron (US), B de Jonge (Zim), B Lunde (US), B Watson (US), C Pavin (US) Selected others: -9 R Goosen (SA) -6 P Harrington (Ire), V Singh (Fij)

Rose hopes to complete a second victory inside a month

England's Justin Rose will take a three-shot lead into Sunday's final round of the Travelers Championship.

Rose hit three birdies and a bogey as he shot a two-under-par round of 68 to go 16 under after three rounds.

But the 29-year-old saw his four-shot overnight lead cut by one as American Ben Curtis fired six birdies in a six-under-par round of 64 to move second.

Vaughn Taylor is two more shots back, while seven players, including US Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin, are 10 under.

Rose had set a tournament record for the opening two days of the championship, but had to settle for a slightly less impressive round on Saturday in Connecticut.

He has hit a rich vein of form in the last month, having won his first PGA Tour title in 162 starts at the Memorial tournament earlier this month.

He needs another good performance this weekend to secure himself a place at next month's Open Championship at St Andrews.

"It was just a day when nothing really went in on the greens," Rose said. "I guess the tale of the day was that I really made nothing. The longest putt I made was about - I think someone said four feet, 10 inches for par on 17.

"So I am really happy to have a day like that and still shoot 68 and maintain the lead."

Having gone winless in his first 161 PGA Tour events, Rose said his recent breakthrough would help him on Sunday.

"I'll sleep much easier tonight than I would have a month ago for sure," Rose said. "It's one less thing to think about, can I get it over the line. I've done that now, and I certainly would love to win my second tomorrow."

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