Axley leads Texas Open after another 63 round

SAN ANTONIO — Eric Axley turned pro nine years ago, but he doesn't have to think that far back to find the best golf of his career.

This is it.

Axley shot his second straight 7-under 63 on Saturday in the Texas Open, birdieing the final three holes to take a four-shot lead into the final round. Only Corey Pavin's 64-61 in Milwaukee are lower consecutive rounds on the PGA Tour this year.

Axley punctuated the round by driving the par-4 16th hole with a 352-yard blast from the tee. When he walked off the 18th green at the Resort Course at LaCantera Golf Club, he knew it was the best he has played.

"Obviously, yeah. I'm just not making mistakes," Axley said. "I'm just playing stress free out there."

Axley, a 32-year-old left-hander with a half backswing pre-shot routine that's similar to the left-handed Mike Weir, was 16 under through 54 holes.

Axley, from Knoxville, Tenn., is pursuing his first PGA Tour victory. He won once on the Nationwide Tour, but his best finishes in two seasons on the PGA Tour are a pair of 24th-place ties.

Another bogey-free round might do it. Axley has gone 40 holes without a bogey. He started the tournament Thursday with bogeys on three of his first 14 holes.

He leads a group of three players including 2005 Byron Nelson Championship winner Ted Purdy, who shot a 64 Saturday. The others at 12 under are Frank Lickliter II (65) and 2004 Ryder Cup participant Chris Riley (64).

But anyone could go lower Sunday. Robert Gamez won the tournament last year with an opening-round 62. Bart Bryant won two years ago with a third-round 60.

"It's hard to sleep on the lead," Purdy said, "especially on a golf course where a lot of birdies can be made and there are lots of guys four or five shots from the lead."

Dean Wilson was five shots back after a 66.

First round co-leader Justin Rose was tied for sixth. After a 1-over 71 in the second round dropped him to four shots behind Axley and second-round co-leader D.A. Points, Rose had consecutive birdies on Nos. 4-5 and 14-16 for a 65 on Saturday and a three-round total of 10-under 200. He was tied for sixth with Charley Hoffman.

Points carded only one birdie all day and fell nine shots behind Axley with a 72.

Axley jumped right to the lead Saturday with a birdie at No. 1, sinking an 18-foot putt on the par-5 hole. And he finished strong with those three birdie putts, none of which was more than 8 feet.