ASSOCIATED PRESS Vijay Singh is looking for his first Mercedes Championships win.

Singh strikes back
at Els

After losing the Mercedes Champion-
ships lead briefly, the world’s top
player regains the reins

KAPALUA, Maui » Ernie Els had the nerve to take the lead away from Vijay Singh. Unfortunately for the South African it lasted all of one hole.

Challenged for the first time this week, Singh didn't exactly run away and hide from the rest of the field during yesterday's third round of the $5.3 million Mercedes Championships, but you get the feeling the world's No. 1 wants to live up to his billing.

A rather ho-hum 69 was good enough to hold off the game's best as Singh tries to win this tournament for the first time. His 54-hole total of 200 was one better than journeyman Jonathan Kaye and two removed from Els, who turned a fast start into a slow finish.

Had Els maintained his blistering pace that included four birdies over the first five holes, perhaps Singh wouldn't have answered the call. But a stunning bogey on the par-5 ninth for Els and a huge eagle for Singh on the par-5 15th was the kind of swing that makes a champion.

"It was a disappointing 4 under, I'll say, but I'll still take it," Singh said. "There were not a lot of birdies out there. I played pretty solid. The putts would not go today, but still an under round, I'll take it. I'm still in the lead."

Els took it briefly with a birdie on the par-5 fifth. Singh drew even with a birdie on the sixth and then birdied the hole that Els bogeyed to make the turn with a two-shot lead. Els hit his second shot on the par-5 ninth into a sand trap guarding the left side of the fairway. He compounded the problem by leaving his third shot on the same beach that led to a bogey 6.

"The start was perfect," said Els, who finished with a 5-under 68. "You get it going like that that early, you know, you can shoot anything. Unfortunately I hit one bad shot. That's what really slowed the whole thing down. Looking at birdie there and you know, you make a 6. It was bit of a bummer there."

ASSOCIATED PRESS Ernie Els hit out of a sand trap onto the green at the ninth hole, where he made bogey yesterday.

Kaye's birdie at the ninth turned out to be a bummer for the rest of the field. It was part of seven birdies over the final 10 holes for Kaye that led to a stellar 66. Not exactly accustomed to being in such rich company, Kaye didn't let it distract him from cutting Singh's lead down to one.

"Vijay has kind of a carefree attitude," Kaye said. "He doesn't get too wrapped up in one shot. And if he hits a bad shot, he just kind of goes about his business. He's got a real even keel. I think that's important when you're playing golf."

Rain is in the forecast this afternoon for West Maui, forcing Kaye to join Singh and Els in the final group. They will tee it up about 5 hours earlier than planned. But because of the weather, the winner may not come from this threesome. The second group of Stewart Cink (67-203), Stuart Appleby (66-204) and Mike Weir (71-204) could also produce the winner.

"With the weather, I think quite a few guys are back in it," Els said. "If it were the same as it's been all week, not too many guys, but right now, a guy can get hot. The leaders make a few mistakes and somebody gets hot, I think it could go down all the way to six shots behind are probably still in it."

That would include Tiger Woods, who also believes he has an outside chance at 205. Despite hitting two shots out of bounds and missing another boat load of makable putts, Woods shot a 4-under 69 to keep Singh in sight.

"I had some great chances early and again didn't make anything," Woods said. "And then I shook the one in on nine from about a foot and a half that got my confidence going (laughing). I've hit it great all week. I couldn't be any more pleased. If I put my name up on that leaderboard too, then I've got a shot at it. If I could just have made some putts this week, I would be right there."

Singh has been right there for most of the 54 holes. Els is the only one to replace him, but said he doesn't think the winner of this event will make a statement for the entire year.

"Whoever wins this week, great," Els said. "If you win three or four before the Masters, obviously you've made your statement. Things like that happen and you're going to make the guys look around. But to say that the guy who wins this tournament is the guy to beat is crazy. You don't make it in one or two weeks."

Mercedes Championships

At Kapalua, Hawaii
Purse: $5.3 million
Third Round

Vijay Singh	66-65-69	--	200
Jonathan Kaye	68-67-66	--	201
Ernie Els	69-65-68	--	202
Stewart Cink	68-68-67	--	203
Stuart Appleby	74-64-66	--	204
Mike Weir	70-63-71	--	204
Tiger Woods	68-68-69	--	205
Vaughn Taylor	69-69-68	--	206
Craig Parry	67-72-68	--	207
Retief Goosen	71-67-69	--	207
Chad Campbell	69-67-71	--	207
David Toms	71-67-70	--	208
Sergio Garcia	68-67-73	--	208
Adam Scott	69-72-68	--	209
Woody Austin	69-72-68	--	209
John Daly	70-69-70	--	209
Bart Bryant	69-72-69	--	210
Joey Sindelar	71-68-71	--	210
Rod Pampling	70-72-69	--	211
Heath Slocum	69-70-72	--	211
Stephen Ames	73-72-67	--	212
Zach Johnson	72-70-71	--	213
Jonathan Byrd	72-70-71	--	213
Steve Flesch	69-73-72	--	214
Mark Hensby	70-73-71	--	214
Fred Funk	74-74-67	--	215
Andre Stolz	73-71-71	--	215
Ryan Palmer	76-68-71	--	215
Brent Geiberger	72-73-71	--	216
Todd Hamilton	72-72-72	--	216
Carlos Franco	74-71-72	--	217

Today's tee times

FRONT NINE
7:10 a.m.
John Daly, Bart Bryant, Joey Sindelar
7:20 a.m.
Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott, Woody Austin
7:30 a.m.
Retief Goosen, Chad Campbell, David Toms
7:40 a.m.
Tiger Woods, Vaughn Taylor, Craig Parry
7:50 a.m.
Stewart Cink, Stuart Appleby, Mike Weir
8 a.m.
Vijay Singh, Jonathan Kaye, Ernie Els

BACK NINE
7:10 a.m.
Rod Pampling, Heath Slocum, Stephen Ames
7:20 a.m.
Zach Johnson, Jonathan Byrd, Steve Flesch
7:30 a.m.
Mark Hensby, Fred Funk, Andre Stolz
7:40 a.m.
Ryan Palmer, Brent Geiberger
7:50 a.m.
Todd Hamilton, Carlos Franco