ATLANTA — The cheers weren't as loud, but Sergio Garcia had heard them before.

Six days ago at the Ryder Cup, he was helpless as Anthony Kim fired at flags and birdied nearly half his holes in a 5-and-4 romp that revved up the gallery during an American victory.

It looked like more of the same early yesterday at the Tour Championship, especially when Kim made everything in sight to build a three-shot lead on the front nine at East Lake. This time, fortunes turned in the Spaniard's favor.

Garcia kept hitting good putts until enough of them went in that he turned a three-shot deficit into a three-shot lead with a 3-under 67, leaving him poised to become only the third player to capture The Players Championship and the Tour Championship in the same year.

"We're moving in the right direction," Garcia said, referring as much to his game as a third round that put him at 8-under 202, giving him a three-shot cushion over Phil Mickelson (69) and Kim (72).

Kim couldn't go at too many flags because he was busy escaping from the rough.

The 23-year-old American hit only four fairways, and his wildness caught up with him. One tee shot hit a fan in the forehead, sending him to the hospital with a 2-inch gash that left blood on the grass. Another shot found the water. Yet another bounced off corporate tents lining the 16th fairway.

"I'm speechless how bad I hit the driver," Kim said.

He was at a loss for words when he saw the damage he inflicted on the ninth hole. His wayward shot hit 48-year-old David Whitfield on the fly, splitting open his forehead. Whitfield was taken to a hospital, but he never lost consciousness and tests were negatives.

Kim gave Whitfield's wife a golf ball that he signed with a note: "Sorry."

Garcia got up-and-down from the bunker for a birdie to catch Kim at the turn, then took the lead for good with a birdie on the par-5 15th as Kim continued to sputter.

"Obviously, AK wasn't on his A-game," Garcia said. "I still feel like he scrambled nicely. He got some putts going in the beginning. I managed to make some birdies and played solidly."

Mickelson has been lurking around the leaders all week and worked his way into the final pairing on a course where he won in 2000.

"It's fun to be in the last group," Mickelson said. "I'm looking forward to it. I know it."

LPGA

OCHOA, FRIBERG SHARE LEAD IN NAVISTAR CLASSIC

PRATTVILLE, Ala. — Winless since May, Lorena Ochoa shot a 3-under 69 yesterday for a share of a third-round lead in the Navistar LPGA Classic.

The top-ranked Mexican star, making her first start since tying for sixth in the Safeway Classic on Aug. 24, matched Louise Friberg (65) at 13-under 203 on the links-style Senator Course, part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail's Capitol Hill complex.

Ochoa has four top-seven finishes in a row, but is winless in seven starts. She opened the year with six wins in nine events, including four straight.

CHAMPIONS

FLEISHER IN TOP POSITION TO END 4-YEAR DROUGHT

CARY, N.C. — Bruce Fleisher moved into position for his first Champions Tour victory in four years, shooting a 6-under 66 yesterday take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the SAS Championship.

The 59-year-old Fleisher had a 10-under 134 total on the Prestonwood Country Club course. He won the 2004 Royal Caribbean Classic and Bruno's Memorial Classic for the last of his 18 Champions Tour victories.

Tom Kite (66) and Eduardo Romero (67) were tied for second. Mark McNulty (63) and John Cook (66) were another stroke back at 8 under, and Scott Hoch (66), Don Pooley (69) and Chip Beck (69) were 7 under.

PGA EUROPEAN

FOG FORCES 3RD-ROUND DELAY IN BRITISH MASTERS

SUTTON COLDFIELD, England — Charl Schwartzel of South Africa held the clubhouse lead yesterday when darkness stopped play in the third round of the British Masters.

The 24-year-old Schwartzel shot a 6-under 66 for a 6-under 210 at The Belfry. He was among the 24 players who completed the round before it was halted. Fog pushed back play Friday, and also caused a slight delay yesterday.