Baddeley leads, Couples lurks at Riviera

Australia's Aaron Baddeley fired a four-under par 67 on Saturday to take a one-shot lead at the PGA Northern Trust Open over veteran Fred Couples and US compatriot Kevin Na.

Baddeley's five birdies included three straight from the eighth hole. He gave one shot back with a bogey at the par-five 11th, but held steady the rest of the way in the changeable weather at Riviera Country Club for a 54-hole total of 10-under 203.

Couples, who held a two-shot lead after 36 holes on a course where he has made 29 US PGA Tour starts and won twice, again defied his aching back to post a one-under 70.

Na, who grew up in Southern California and is seeking a first career win, carded a 67 to share second with Couples on 204.

Couples wasn't the only veteran in the mix. Fiji's Vijay Singh, 47 and seeking his first US Tour victory since 2008, carded a 67 to lie fourth on 205.

Singh's round included six birdies, and if he didn't it the ball as well as he would have liked, he couldn't complain about his putting.

"I tell you what, I had one of the best putting rounds I've had for a long, long time," said Singh, who capped his round with a 28-foot birdie putt at 18. He also rolled in a 28-footer at 16 and drained a 60-footer at the par-four 13th.

"I didn't hit the ball like my score reflected, but I putted and I scored really well," he said.

Singh, who tied for third at the Phoenix Open earlier this month, was pleased to be in contention, even if he's not sure just what to expect from his game.

"I'm really fired up for tomorrow," he said. "I'm in a good position to win tomorrow, so we'll see what happens."