Stadler, a Champions Tour rookie, birdied three of the first four holes at a tamer TPC of Michigan yesterday en route to a 7-under 65, vaulting him into a tie for the lead with second-round leader Tom Watson and Mike McCullough at 11-under 205.

"This golf course sets up pretty well for me," Stadler said. "I was able to keep the ball in play, and the few times I hit a poor shot, I was able to recover with a good shot."

Watson, coming off an 8-under 64 on Friday in blustery weather, made two birdies and scrambled for several pars yesterday before making his first bogey in 37 holes at No. 17. He finished with a 1-under 71.

McCullough, who has finished no worse than tied for sixth at this event in the past three years, had a bogey-free 68.

Stadler had the round of the day, thanks largely to his putter, which he used sparingly. He needed only 24 putts to get around the Jack Nicklaus-designed course, including a 13-footer to save par from a greenside bunker on the final hole.

"I putted consistently well today, and I hadn't done that in ages," Stadler said. "It's nice to get over a putt and feel like you've got more than a 1 percent chance of knocking it in."

Stadler birdied three of the first four holes and followed with another birdie at No. 8 to shoot an outward 32.

He said he looks forward to his pairing with longtime friend Watson, the gallery favorite this week because of caddie Bruce Edwards' struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease.

"Tom is a close friend, and Bruce is a wonderful friend," Stadler said. "That said, we're all going to go out there tomorrow and try to beat each other's brains out."

Five players, including first-round leader Gil Morgan and two-time champion Dave Stockton, are four shots back at 7-under 209.

Greater Milwaukee Open

• Perry ahead by one after 66: Kenny Perry shot a 4-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead over six players after three rounds of the Greater Milwaukee Open.

Perry, who won the Colonial and Memorial in consecutive weeks this year and has won four times in the 10 tournaments he's held a 54-hole lead, had an 8-under 202 total.

Wisconsin native Jerry Kelly (70) was a stroke back along with Brenden Pappas (63), Heath Slocum (68), Steve Allan (68), Patrick Sheehan (70) and Jay Don Blake (71).

Canadian Women's Open

• Inkster, Daniel share lead: Juli Inkster shot a 5-under 67 to tie Beth Daniel for the lead in the rain-delayed third round of the Canadian Women's Open at Vancouver, British Columbia.

The 43-year-old Inkster, who won the Corning Classic in May for her 29th LPGA Tour title, matched the 46-year-old Daniel, who shot her third straight 69, at 9-under 207.

Kim Saiki was three strokes back after a 69 at the Point Grey course.

Scottish Open

• Els sits on five-shot cushion: Ernie Els stretched his lead to five shots through three rounds with a 4-under 67 yesterday in the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond in Luss Scotland.

Els, tuning up to defend his British Open title next week, is at 15-under 198.