US PGA 2013: Jim Furyk leads Jason Dufner at Oak Hill

American veteran Jim Furyk will a take a one-shot lead over countryman Jason Dufner into the final round of the US PGA Championship at Oak Hill.

Furyk, 43, shot a two-under 68 to reach nine under on a gripping third day as overnight leader Dufner took 71, with Henrik Stenson (66) one back and fellow Swede Jonas Blixt (64) six under.

Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood moved to three under with rounds of 67 and 68.

Tiger Woods carded 73 to end four over and Phil Mickelson took 78 for 10 over.

Furyk, the 2003 US Open champion, was two adrift in a share of second going into the third round but hit the front at the 10th and duelled with Dufner down the back nine on a sunny, breezy day in upstate New York.

A long putt for birdie on 17 and another lengthy effort to save par after a poor drive on 18 gave the experienced Furyk the lead going into Sunday.

"It was big," Furyk said. "On 18 I made a bad swing, but this week I have not let too much bother me. I was able to wedge it on and make par and it was a nice way to finish the day."

Furyk, who clinched the last of his 16 PGA Tour wins in 2010, has worked hard on his driving and putting recently with father Mike, his career-long coach, and is starting to see the fruit after missing the cut at this year's US Open and Open.

Dufner could not match his course-record 63 from Friday

But the eight-time US Ryder Cup stalwart will be mindful of the fact he held or shared the lead after 54 holes in four tournaments in 2012 and failed to win any, including the US Open at the Olympic Club.

The 36-year-old Dufner, who equalled the lowest score in major history with a course-record 63 on Friday, is chasing a first major title after blowing a five-shot lead and losing in a play-off to Keegan Bradley in the 2011 US PGA. A double-bogey at the fifth on Saturday slowed his charge, but after one further bogey sandwiched by two birdies he parred his way home to remain firmly in the hunt.

"There were a couple times when I was a little frustrated with things, a little perturbed, but you have to keep your head," Dufner said.

"It's important to stay even keeled for the most part. You have got to let things go in these majors and just plod along out there."

The resurgent Stenson, 37, who was second behind Mickelson at the Open and second behind Woods at the WGC event on Sunday, and 29-year-old Blixt, playing in his first US PGA, are bidding to become the first Swedish man to win a major title.

Adam Scott, meanwhile, is targeting a second major of 2013 after making his breakthrough at the Masters in April. But he slipped back from a share of second overnight with a two-over 72, including a double-bogey at 16, to end five under.

The 33-year-old Australian, who blew a four-shot lead with four to go at the Open in 2012, also led the Open at Muirfield late on before finishing tied for third.

American veteran Steve Stricker, 46, is also well placed to win a first major after a level-par 70 left him alongside Scott in fifth.

McIlroy, who looked likely to miss his second straight cut in a major after 11 holes of Friday's second round, climbed 21 places to end in a tie for seventh.

The 24-year-old was still level par for the tournament after 12 holes of his third round but birdied the 13th and holed from 50ft for another birdie on the 17th before chipping in on the 18th.

"It's getting there. It was good to feel that sort of rush again," said defending champion McIlroy, who has struggled so far this season.

Westwood displayed his usual patience as he mixed five birdies with three bogeys to make up 15 places after Friday's disappointing three-over 73.

The Englishman, who held a two-shot lead going into the final round of the Open at Muirfield last month before finishing third, said: "I figured somewhere around 67 might give me a chance."

American Dustin Johnson climbed 51 spots with a five-under 65 to finish on two under, while countryman Kevin Streelman rose 41 places with a 66 to join him.

US Open champion Justin Rose, who was tied second overnight, collapsed to a 77 to finish one over.