Woods ahead by 4 strokes at PGA Championship for largest halfway lead at major in 4 years

Woods takes 4-shot lead into third round the PGA

CHASKA, Minn. — Fans took off at a run, and there was finally a buzz at the PGA Championship on Saturday morning.

Was someone making a move? Had Phil Mickelson found his putting stroke?

No, just Tiger Woods showing up at Hazeltine National.

The world’s No. 1 took a four-stroke lead into the third round Saturday and while he insists there’s a lot of golf still to be played, the stats say otherwise. It’s his largest margin after two rounds at a major since the 2005 British Open at St. Andrews, when he led by five. He hasn’t lost a 36-hole lead on the PGA Tour in five years, and that was when he was revamping his swing.

And the doozy of them all: He’s 8-0 as the 36-hole leader at a major.

“If Tiger plays the golf he’s capable of on the weekend,” Padraig Harrington said, “he’ll be a winner.”

Conditions were tough again Saturday, with the wind gusting and the humidity up. More ominous, dark clouds moved in at midmorning and parked themselves above Hazeltine National. The forecast calls for a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon, and storms are likely in the evening.

Still, there were birdies to be had.

Soren Kjeldsen birdied his first two holes, getting to 3 under for the tournament. Stephen Ames had improved to 2 under by the turn. Yet they were still well behind Woods, who was paired with Vijay Singh, a two-time PGA winner.

Steve Flesch looked as if he might make a charge with four birdies on his front nine, only to drop back to even par with two bogeys and a double bogey on the backside.

Phil Mickelson, who has played sparingly this summer as his wife and mother battle breast cancer and made the cut on the number, had another rough day Saturday with a 4-over 76 that left him at 8 over. He bogeyed his first three par-5s — including the No. 3 for a second straight day — opened the back nine with three straight bogeys and made just one birdie.

“It’s frustrating for me to not be in contention on the weekend of a major,” Mickelson said. “But that’s motivation for me to work hard.”