EDISON, N.J. (AP) - Bae Sang-moon is making the most of his final weeks before he starts mandatory military service in South Korea.
Bae matched shots with PGA champion Jason Day throughout the third round of The Barclays on Saturday and both finished at 7-under 63 to share the lead going into the final round at Plainfield Country Club.
They were at 11-under 199, one shot ahead of Bubba Watson (67).
Suddenly, the opening FedEx Cup playoff event is loaded with significance beyond the $10 million bonus at the end of this four-tournament series.
Two shots behind going into the final round was Ryan Palmer (65), playing for the first time since his father died last week in a traffic accident in West Texas. Palmer, who has not had a top 10 since May, caught himself wondering what it would mean to win with a family grieving at home.
British Open winner Zach Johnson (67) and Henrik Stenson (67) also were 9 under.
Bae had been able to avoid his mandatory two-year military service through his PGA Tour career until it was determined that he spent too much time in South Korea last year. He appealed the decision, and the military courts ruled a month ago that he had to serve. Bae accepted the decision, though he remains in America to finish out the FedEx Cup.
A victory for the 29-year-old would move him to No. 7 in the Presidents Cup standings and assure him a spot on the International team. The Presidents Cup will be played Oct. 8-11 in South Korea for the first time. Even if he doesn't, he might do well enough to merit a pick by captain Nick Price. That's assuming Bae would be allowed to compete before the military service begins.
LPGA TOUR
YOKOHAMA TIRE LPGA CLASSIC
PRATTVILLE, Ala. (AP) - Austin Ernst took the lead at 10 under before darkness forced the suspension of third-round play in the weather-delayed Yokohama LPGA Tire Classic.
Ernest was 1 under through four holes after waiting out a five-hour delay for rain and lightning on the links-style Senator Course. She passed second-round leader Yani Tseng, who had a bogey on the fourth hole to drop to 9 under before play was stopped.
Lexi Thompson, the 2011 winner, was 8 under along with Sei Young Kim, Tiffany Joh, Sydnee Michaels and Julieta Granada. Thompson completed four holes, Kim seven, and Joh, Michaels and Granada five.
DICK'S SPORTING GOODS OPEN
ENDICOTT, N.Y. (AP) - Canadian Rod Spittle shot a 6-under 66 to take a one-shot lead after the second round of the Champions Tour's Dick's Sporting Goods Open.
The 60-year-old Spittle was at 10-under 134, a shot ahead of Scott McCarron (64) and John Huston (68). Huston, the 2011 champion, is trying to become the first two-time winner in the event that started in 2007.
Jeff Maggert (68), Stephen Ames (64), Ian Woosnam (69) and first-round co-leader Paul Goydos (70) were tied for fourth at 8 under, with Corey Pavin (66) and Willie Wood (69) another shot behind.
CZECH MASTERS
VYSOKY UJEZD, Czech Republic (AP) - Belgium's Thomas Pieters shot a 7-under 65 after being penalized for hitting the wrong ball, leaving him with a one-stroke lead in the Czech Masters.
Pieters ended up with a double bogey on the 11th hole after playing the wrong ball in the rough. He had a 17-under 199 total on the Albatross course.
Sweden's Pelle Edberg was second after a 67.