Andres Romero of Argentina fired a five-under-par 65 to move within three shots of overnight leader JB Holmes early in Sunday's US PGA Championship third round.
The 27-year-old Romero, third in the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie, posted six birdies against a lone bogey on the gruelling Oakland Hills course dubbed 'The Monster' by Ben Hogan after he won the 1951 US Open.
Romero finished on two-over-par 212, three back of big-hitting American Holmes who had yet to start his round.
Shortly after Romero reached the clubhouse, play was suspended due to the threat of severe weather.
"I played an excellent round, almost perfect," Romero told reporters through an interpreter.
One shot back of Holmes on even-par 140 were Briton Justin Rose, American Ben Curtis and Charlie Wi of South Korea, playing his first major.
Former winner David Toms, Swede Henrik Stenson and American Steve Flesch were one over, one ahead of a large group including Spain's Sergio Garcia, 2007 U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina, Australian Aaron Baddeley and Jeev Milkha Singh of India.
Other early starters also showed low scores were available despite windy conditions.
Camilo Villegas of Colombia was four under through 14 holes as he went to two over for the tournament.
Meanwhile,. Michael Campbell is two over par through seven holes of his third round at the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills, to be six over for the tournament.
Fellow kiwi Mark Brown is also seven shots off the leader, at
even par through 13 holes so far today.
