Stricker takes lead at Barclays in search of first win in '07

HARRISON, N.Y. -- Steve Stricker has given himself plenty of chances to win this year, but none quite as good as this.

A burst of birdies at The Barclays carried Stricker to a 6-under 65 and allowed him to zoom past K.J. Choi and into the lead Saturday at Westchester Country Club, the first time he has held the 54-hole lead in nine years.

Finishing it off for his first victory since 2001 won't be easy.

Choi overcame some errant tee shots on the back nine with a birdie-birdie finish to salvage a 70, leaving him only one shot behind. Hunter Mahan tied a tournament scoring record for the second time in five weeks, this one a 9-under 62 that took him from the middle of the pack to only two shots behind.

And then there was Rich Beem, perhaps the most desperate contender.

Needing a top-10 finish to avoid ending his season in these inaugural PGA Tour Playoffs, Beem overcame a rocky start with an eagle on the ninth hole and a 69, giving him his best position in a final round since February.

But it all starts with Stricker, who was at 14-under 199, which tied the 54-hole record at Westchester.

He played in the final group at the British Open and was tied for the lead going into the back nine at the U.S. Open, fading both times.

Steve Stricker has seen the lead before, this season, but can he find the way to the win? (Getty Images)

For now, he was thrilled to simply be in this position.

Only four players were within six shots of Choi going into a steamy afternoon at Westchester. But the South Korea plodded along with pars as Mahan and others were attacking soft greens, and left behind was a tournament that had so many compelling possibilities.

Ten players were separated by five shots going into the final round, and that includes two-time winner Ernie Els, who finished his round of 68 with an eagle on the final hole.

Former U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy had a 69 and was in the group at 203 that included Woody Austin (66) and Rory Sabbatini, who was among four players who had a share of the lead Saturday until he started missing fairways and making bogeys.