Brooks Koepka is promising not to make the same mistake as the revitalised former world No.1 eyes Masters redemption at the weather-battered PGA Championship in Rochester, New York.
Koepka fired the low round of the day, a second straight four-under 66 in driving rain, to claim a one-stroke advantage over halfway co-leaders Viktor Hovland and Corey Conners at Oak Hill Country Club.
The four-time major winner is six under for the championship after making light of the gruelling conditions with five birdies and just one bogey on Saturday.
Hovland and Conners both carded rounds of 70, with Koepka's LIV Golf colleague Bryson DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open champion, fourth at three under after also shooting even par.
No player outside the top three at the halfway mark of six previous major championships staged at notoriously demanding Oak Hill has hoisted the trophy.
But Koepka is positioned to defy history and secure a third PGA Championship crown, to go with his back-to-back victories in 2018 and 2019, after continuing his resurgence following career-saving knee surgery in 2021.
Victory would also be sweet atonement for letting a four-shot last-day Masters lead slip to finish joint runner-up with Phil Mickelson behind world No.1 Jon Rahm last month.
"It would mean a lot. I think a major championship would mean a lot to anybody," Koepka said.
"To win one would be fantastic. I mean, I was just told that only Tiger and Jack have won three, so that would be pretty special to be in a list or category with them.
"I'll just got to go out and go play good tomorrow."
What Koepka vowed not to do is play defensively on Sunday as he did at Augusta where he closed with a three-over 75 and was mowed down by Rahm.
"I know what I did. I promise I won't show up like that tomorrow," he said.
Koepka will play the final round with Hovland, the 25-year-old Norwegian who continues to knock on the door of a major championship breakthrough.
Hovland played in the final group at last year's British Open won by Australia's Cameron Smith at St Andrews and also finished top 10 at the Masters.
Canadian Conners led for much of Saturday before getting caught in the lip of a bunker trying to find the green from a fairway trap on the 16th hole.
He was forced to take a penalty drop and wound up with a double-bogey six.
World No.2 Scottie Scheffler (73) is tied for fifth with English veteran Justin Rose (69), four shots behind Koepka, after falling back from a share of the second-round lead with Hovland and Conners.
World No.3 Rory McIlroy, seeking a fifth career major and to have his name etched on the Wanamaker Trophy for a third time, is one stroke further behind Scheffler in solo seventh after a 69.
McIlroy will be paired with Californian club professional Michael Block whose fairytale run continued with a third successive 70 to be level with the card.
"I'm living the dream," 46-year-old Block said.
Min Woo Lee remains the leading Australian, tied for 10th at one over and seven shots off the pace following a 71.
Cam Davis (71) is one stroke further back, with Smith (72) at four over.
