Matt Jones is one good round away from the lucrative Tour Championship while Jason Day battled a sinus infection at the third of four US PGA tour playoff events in Chicago.
Jones, who came into the BMW Championship ranked 51st in the season-long points race, faced the daunting task of needing a likely top-five finish to make it to the Tour Championship next week.
The top 30 players qualify for the event to be held at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta with a prize pool of $US8 million ($A8.69 million).
But after carding a four-under 67 third round at Conway Farms Golf Club, the New South Welshman is within striking distance, sitting at six-under in a tie for 11th.
While he is seven shots off the lead held by veteran American Jim Furyk at 13-under par, he sits just three shots behind fifth place.
Steve Stricker 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 (66) bounced back from a controversial penalty to be fifth alone at nine-under.
Day battled illness, struggling to a one-under 70 to join Jones at six-under.
Day is already assured a place in the season finale next week but is looking to increase his standing from his starting position of 12th.
Considering some of the terrible shots he played the Queenslander 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.
Looking worse for wear, Day headed straight for bed rest post-round.
“I had very low expectations to play well today because I’m fighting this cold right now,” he said.
“I hit a lot of average shots but it was good to grind it out at one-under. I was fighting my energy the whole time, which was tough.
“I have to try my best to rest tonight and try to move up tomorrow.
“I will take a few days off early next week to try to freshen up and get the energy back.”
Jones’ Atlanta dream could have looked even more likely had his putter been hot.
While he is ranked 11th in driving accuracy he drops to 52nd in the 70-man field in strokes gained putting.
“This is absolutely the worst score I could be on right now, I definitely should be a lot better,” Jones said.
“I have missed a lot of birdie putts and I just need to make some of them tomorrow.
“Atlanta will take care of itself if I play golf the way I know I can play so I just have to go out there and try to get my birdies and limit mistakes.
“I know if I go out and shoot five under tomorrow I think I’ll be fine.”
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.