JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Chad Campbell shot a 62 yesterday and is tied for first with David Toms heading into today's final round.

2 for the show

David Toms and Chad Campbell put some room between them and the rest of the field

Chad Campbell and David Toms separated themselves from the field, but one couldn't shake the other during yesterday's third round of the $5.1 million Sony Open in Hawaii.

Playing in the final group with second-round leader Jim Furyk, the talented twosome combined for 17 birdies and no bogeys to wind up in a tie at 14-under 196 for the tournament. Bubba Watson and Shane Bertsch managed a pair of stellar rounds of their own and head into today's final round in a tie for third at 7-under 203.

But unless Campbell and Toms are late for their tee time this afternoon, one of these two will leave Honolulu with $918,000 in his pocket and a trophy for the case back home. Choosing one over the other will be difficult because both are playing extremely well.

Campbell fired an 8-under 62 to force Toms to pull some shots out of his bag worthy of Siegfried and Roy. The Louisiana native rolled in a pair of magical putts that left even those at Shotlink checking their computers to make sure the 75-footer for birdie at 16 and the 27-footer across the green at 14 were accurate.

Both long birdies helped Toms finish with a 9-under 61 to catch Campbell at the 54th hole. The big Texan responded with a tap-in par at the 18th as the two good friends left the green with broad smiles on their faces.

Neither ruled out the possibility that someone in the field could catch fire and draw even, but it's unlikely. Toms missed the course record of 60 set by Davis Love in 1994 by one and Campbell was only two off the blistering pace Love set when Waialae was a par 72.

Granted, the trades went south to Kona, leaving the country-club course defenseless, but it's unlikely both Campbell and Toms will lose their way later today.

"If the weather is like this, somebody could do what we did today and come from behind," Toms conceded. "But I still feel like both of us are playing well enough that if we just keep on doing it and not think too much about anybody else except for what's right in front of us, you know, we'll be tough to catch."

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM David Toms missed the course record by one shot yesterday.

That wouldn't have been so bad over the first two days, but yesterday, the course was there for the taking.

"It's just nice to see the wind calm down a little bit so you can make a few birdies out there," Campbell said. "It was a little bit easier today to hit the fairways and get it closer to the hole. Obviously, it was a good day. Anytime you shoot a 62 is a great day. It was nice -- me and David just kind of fed off each other all day. He played great and I was able to kind of follow in his footsteps."

Actually, it was Toms trying to learn the Texas two-step, as three times Campbell opened up a two-shot advantage on him. But try as he might, Campbell couldn't put Toms on the canvas, clearing the way for a fantastic fight to the finish.

"Chad got off to a good start and I knew that I had to stay close to him," Toms said. "The way he was playing golf, you know, he was leading the tournament. I was looking to just keep up. I started to make some birdies and I was right there with him.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Jim Fuyk reacted to a shanked shot on No. 2 yesterday.

The same could be said for Watson and Bertsch, who came in early with solid rounds of their own. Bertsch put up what was then the best round of the tournament at 7-under 63 to move to 203 for the week. Watson caught him with a 4-under 66. Furyk (70), Charles Warren (64) and first-round leader Rory Sabbatini (67) are tied for fifth at 6-under 204.

A huge group of nine golfers, including Mercedes Championships winner Stuart Appleby (69), defending champion Vijay Singh (65), K.J. Choi (68) and Robert Gamez (66) are tied for eighth at 5-under 205 for the event.

But ain't nobody catching Toms or Campbell.

"I think you've got to stay out of your own way," Campbell said. "That's the worst thing that can happen to you if you start thinking about it or get going too fast. Just stay out of your own way and just let it happen. It's easy to say; it's hard to do."