Jimmy Walker, steady as a rock in windy conditions at Monterey Peninsula Country Club, shot 4-under-par 67 and will take a six-stroke lead over Hunter Mahan and Tim Wilkinson of New Zealand into the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
Several players were still on the course when play was halted by darkness.
Walker, who leads the FedEx Cup standings thanks to victories in the Frys.com Open and the Sony Open in Hawaii, never buckled on a day when the wind forced a two-hour, 20-minute stoppage of play in the middle of the round.
“Who knows what the weather’s going to do?” said Walker, who has the largest lead in the tournament heading into the final round since Phil Mickelson was ahead by seven on his way to winning in 2005.
“I know Pebble Beach is a tough golf course, especially with the winds. I’m excited to be here, to be in this position. This is why you play golf and work hard to be in this position.”
Mahan, who has won five times on the PGA Tour but not since the 2012 Shell Houston Open, salvaged a 72 at Monterey Peninsula with two late birdies after posting 68s on the first two days.
The 35-year-old Wilkinson, who captured the 2000 New Zealand Stroke Play Championship as an amateur but has not won since turning pro in 2003, birdied three of his first six holes at Monterey Peninsula and closed with another birdie to shoot 69.
Richard H. Lee had an even-par 72 at Spyglass Hill and was tied for fourth with Ryan Palmer, who shot 1-under 71 at Pebble Beach.
Mickelson, who has won four times at Pebble, was bogey-free at Spyglass until stumbling on the ninth hole, his last of the day, and recorded a 71 that put him in a tie for sixth with five other players, eight shots behind.
Two-time AT&T winner Dustin Johnson carded a 70 at Pebble Beach and was in a tie for 11th that included 36-hole co-leader Jordan Spieth, who was 5-over after 15 holes at Pebble when darkness came.
Graeme McDowell, who won the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, came in with a 72 in his first appearance on the course since that day four years ago and was tied for 39th, while defending champion Brandt Snedeker carded a 77 at Pebble and missed the 54-hole cut.
