NOTEBOOK From Medinah

Sunday, August 20, 2006 Low lefty: Mike Weir is the low left-hander three-quarters of the way through the 88th PGA Championship. Weir tied the course record with his 7-under 65 at Medinah No. 3 and is just two shots behind co-leaders Tiger Woods, who also shot 65, and Luke Donald going into Sunday's final round. Weir had nine birdies and two bogeys to match the score Skip Kendall posted in the 1999 PGA, when the 17th green didn't lie next to Lake Kadijah. Weir is four shots ahead of Masters champion Phil Mickelson, another lefty. "It was a special day, a lot of fun," said Weir, who won the 2003 Masters. "It was one of those days that even when I was aiming away from the flag a little bit, I seemed to either push it right at the flag or pull it stiff. I played much better than the first couple of days. I hit my irons much better and putted pretty well." Weir, who started the day at 5 under par, birdied his first two holes. He also birdied the first three holes on the back nine. He bogeyed the 18th but recorded his lowest score in a major championship. The last time the PGA was at Medinah, in 1999, Weir played in the final group with Woods, who won it. Weir soared to an 80 and tied for 10th. "No question, it was painful," Weir said. "It wasn't a fun day. I just remember feeling after nine holes, just kind of spacy, just kind of spun out. I couldn't believe what was going on. "A couple of weeks later when I was in contention in Canada, I think my focus was sharper. I was determined not to let anything distract me. That's what I learned from that." Alternate plans: Ryan Moore, whose 5-under 67 left him at 6-under 210, didn't find out he was in the tournament until Sunday, when Dean Wilson won the International in a playoff over Tom Lehman. "I was in a win-win there," he said. "I knew [Wilson and Lehman] were both already in the field, and I knew they held a spot for the [International] champion, so that would move it down one more on the list. I'm still definitely very fortunate to be playing right now." Moore, who won the U.S. Public Links, the NCAA, the Western Amateur and the U.S. Amateur in 2004, earned his way onto the PGA Tour in 2005. This year he has won $529,507, including a tie for second at the Buick Championship, his best finish. After missing seven weeks recovering from surgery for a hand injury, he worked on swinging differently because his hand has been sore. "I was starting with the club parallel to the ground, so I lifted the club right away to 90 degrees, and then I turned my shoulders and hit it," Moore said. "It's a little unusual, but it's the only way I can really swing right now without my hand having a fairly sharp pain, which is understandable this short after surgery." It's how you finish: Jeff Maggert started his third round with an eagle. But he couldn't capitalize and finished with a 78. He shot a 41 on the back nine, including a double bogey on the par-5 10th hole. Maggert is at 5-over 221. Joey Sindelar had a double eagle and three birdies on the front nine for a 33 but fell apart on the back nine with a 4-over 40. He is at 1-over 217. Chicago Tribune