LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Former British Open champion Brian Harman battled through a rocky start to shoot an even-par 72 and take a three-shot lead after the third round of the PGA Tour Texas Open in San Antonio on Saturday.

Harman, who started the day four shots clear of the field after a six-under-par 66 on Friday, was in trouble early on at TPC San Antonio, making bogeys on his second and fourth holes.

But the 38-year-old American — who is chasing his first tournament win since triumphing in the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool — regrouped impressively to stop the bleeding.

He rattled off nine straight pars before making his first birdie of the day, brilliantly chipping out of a greenside bunker on the par-five 14th to within inches of the cup to leave himself with a tap-in.

After two more pars, Harman then dropped to level par for the round with a birdie on the par-four 17th, with another sublime bunker shot setting up a five-footer that he duly rolled in.

Harman had an opportunity to dip under par for the round on the 18th green, but rolled his 12-foot birdie putt just past the cup.

That left him alone on 12 under through 54 holes and in pole position to claim the fourth PGA Tour win of his career.

“I knew I’d get some birdie chances on that back nine, just had to kind of survive the front, there’s some really tough holes,” Harman said afterwards.

“Got out of position a few times off the tee and really had to scramble.”

Harman is bracing for a dog-fight on Sunday as he attempts to close out victory.

“I know that I can do it, but the guys that are behind me, they’re hungry, man, they’re coming,” Harman said.

“A lot of guys that haven’t won, guys that have won a couple times, good players, so I’ll have to play really well tomorrow.”

Harman leads by three from Andrew Novak, who moved to nine under after carding a three-under-par 69.

Novak’s 69 came courtesy of a huge slice of good fortune at the par-three 16th, where his five-iron tee shot flew cannoned off a spectator grandstand and spanned back onto the green to present a short birdie putt.

“I didn’t expect it to kick back and go on the green, that was obviously ridiculous,” Novak said afterwards. “Not the best swing and sometimes golf rewards you.”

Tom Hoge is a further shot back on eight under after his four-under-par 68, while Keith Mitchell five off the lead following a one-over-par 73.

Finland’s Sami Valimaki and Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune are on six under alongside Chad Ramey.