Goggin opens up three-shot lead at Memorial

By Andrew Both

DUBLIN, Ohio (Reuters) - Mathew Goggin played a deft short game to open up a three-shot lead after the third round of the Memorial tournament on Saturday.

"Three shots in front, I expect to win," the Australian said after carding three birdies and two bogeys for a one-under-par 71 on another difficult, windy day at Muirfield Village.

Goggin, who has not won in 185 starts on the PGA Tour, posted an eight-under 208 total with one round left.

Five players -- Canadian Mike Weir, Englishman Justin Rose and Americans Kenny Perry, Jerry Kelly and Matt Kuchar -- are tied for second on five-under.

Goggin expects at least one of his pursuers to exert some pressure in the final round.

"Someone's going to have a good day because they're the best players in the world," he said.

"You can't expect to chop it around and cruise to victory. But the bonus is you're not leading the tournament because you played poorly."

Goggin, who shared the halfway lead with Perry, jumped clear with two birdies in the first three holes, before the threat of lightning halted play for more than two hours.

He never quite regained his momentum after the break, not that birdies were easy to come by on a day when the course averaged almost 74 strokes.

"The two birdies in the first three holes was a great way to start and then I was pretty steady from then on, without too many dramas," Goggin said.

"I've been working on this for a long time. It's a great opportunity."

Goggin is not the only player seeking his first tour victory. Rose is another young player trying to break through and he helped his cause with an eagle at the par-five 15th.

"I would prefer to be leading by three, but three back is a great place to be (because) there's no pressure," he said.

Rose received the benefit of the doubt over a possible violation, when it was ruled his ball did not oscillate over a putt.

"I just wanted to make a hundred percent sure my ball didn't move out of its original position," Rose said.

(Editing by Martin Petty)