The Associated Press

GRAND BLANC, Mich. - Jim Furyk has bounced back from his abysmal showing at the British Open. The U.S. Open champion made a 48-foot putt for birdie to cap a 7-under 65 and take the lead after three rounds at the Buick Open Saturday. He is at 17 under, four shots ahead of Tiger Woods.

"I was just trying to roll it up there close and I got a bonus when it went in," Furyk said of his putt on 18.

Furyk said he wasn't sour for long after missing the cut at the British Open.

"I forgot about it the moment I got on the plane and came back home," he said.

Furyk made six birdies and showed plenty of poise playing with Woods, while a raucous crowd followed them all day. The last time he led after 54 holes was at the U.S. Open.

Carl Paulson is one shot behind Furyk after shooting a 65. Neal Lancaster is at 15 under. Kenny Perry, Paul Goydos, Paul Gow and second-round leader Chris DiMarco, who shot a 71, are three shots off the lead.

Woods is among three players at 13 under.

"As far back as I am, and as many guys as there are between me and the lead, I'm going to have to be very aggressive," Woods said. "It's going to be tough, because this is the type of course that gives us birdies in bunches, so you can't expect to be the only guy to go low."

WOMEN'S BRITISH OPEN: Ten weeks into her pregnancy, Patricia Meunier-Lebouc is chasing her second major title of the year.

The Frenchwoman shot a 5-under 67 Saturday to lead Se Ri Pak and Wendy Ward by one stroke after three rounds at Lytham St. Annes, England. Meunier-Lebouc was at 10-under 206.

"I'm happy to get on the golf course and play," said Meunier-Lebouc. "... I feel I just have to enjoy being out there and hitting one shot after another."

Pak, a former champion and four-time major winner, and Ward each carded a 69 for 207.

Meunier-Lebouc also will have to shake Annika Sorenstam and Karrie Webb. Sorenstam is at 208 while Webb is at 209.

Heather Bowie led by two strokes entering the day in her bid for her first pro title. But she tumbled from the leaderboard when she lost her ball at the 11th hole and took a double-bogey 7. She wound up at 210, sharing sixth place.

Meunier-Lebouc won the Kraft Nabisco in March.

Sorenstam, a winner of five majors, had a 68 to move into contention. Webb (six majors) shot a 70.

That means there are winners of a combined 16 majors in the top five on the leaderboard.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Former college hockey defenseman Allen Doyle shot a tournament-record 8-under 63 - including a 29 on the front nine - to take the lead at 11 under after two rounds of the FleetBoston Classic in Concord, Mass. Defending champion Bob Gilder shot a 65 to move to 9 under and into a tie for second with James Mason, who was 5 under for the day at Nashawtuc Country Club.