Veteran American Jim Furyk backed up his scintillating second round 59 with a measured two-under 69 to take a one-shot lead after the third round of the BMW Championship at Conway Farms Golf Club.

Furyk moved to 13-under par in the third of four playoff tournaments, one clear of fellow veteran Steve Stricker who carded an impressive 64 to jump to 12-under and outright second.

Overnight co-leader Brandt Snedeker (71) sits third at 11-under, Zach Johnson (69) is fourth at 10-under while world No.1 Tiger Woods bounced back from a controversial penalty to be fifth alone at nine-under.

Jason Day and Matt Jones are the best of the Australians at six-under par in a tie for 11th.

Day struggled to a one-under 70, battling a tough sinus infection while Jones put together a neat 67 to give himself every chance of the top five finish he likely needs to survive to next weeks season ending Tour Championship.

Day, hoping to climb into striking distance, fell ill overnight and was forced to change his expectations.

Considering some of the terrible shots he played he was fortunate to not post a blowout number and topple well back.

“He scrambled well and hung in there. That could easily have been an 80,” caddy and coach Col Swatton said.

Jones opened with a bogey but birdied the fifth and eighth holes to get in red figures.

He then hit a hot patch with three consecutive birdies on 12, 13 and 14 to keep his Atlanta dream alive.

It was a rough day for Adam Scott who traded pars and bogeys over the opening 12 holes before getting two late birdies for an unseemly 75.

His position in the top five of the season long points list, from where a win in Atlanta guarantees a FedEx Cup title, is now under threat as he sits tied for 41st at two-over.

Marc Leishman joins Scott at two-over following a 71 needing a record breaking round and plenty of help to make it to next week.

Woods carded a 66 the day after being assessed a two-shot penalty when his ball moved as he removed loose impediments around it and he failed to return it to its original position.

The 14-time major winner still disputes the decision, even after being shown video footage.

“It’s one of those things where I thought the ball oscillated, and I thought that was it But they saw otherwise,” Woods said.

“I was pretty hot because I felt like, as I said, nothing happened. I felt like the ball oscillated and that was it.

“I fought back today, which was not easy to do. Today was a tough round, but I fought and got myself back within striking distance.”