Jason Dufner (USA) walks to the 6th hole during the third round of the 2011 PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club.

Jason Dufner (USA) walks to the 6th hole during the third round of the 2011 PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club. (Kevin Liles, US PRESSWIRE / August 12, 2011)

By Jeff Shain, Orlando Sentinel

August 13, 2011, 4:52 p.m.

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Brendan Steele, a PGA Tour rookie playing in his first major, notched seven birdies in a 4-under-par 66 Saturday to share the lead with Jason Dufner heading into the final round of the PGA Championship.

Steele had the opportunity to stand as sole leader, but bogeyed Atlanta Athletic Club's perilous 18th hole – only his second blemish on Saturday's scorecard.

Minutes later, Dufner rolled home a 15-foot putt at No.16 for his second birdie in a row to pull even at 7-under. He nearly made it three in a row from the same distance at the par-3 17th, but watched his curling attempt straighten at the finish and stop on the edge.

Dufner finished with a 68, joining Steele at 7-under 203 for the week. That was one shot ahead of Keegan Bradley, another first-time major entrant who turned in a Saturday 69.

"It will be anxious time," said Steele, who won the Texas Open back in May. "I know that all I can do is play well and if somebody plays better than me, then so be it."

Scott Verplank, in his 25th PGA Tour season, recovered from a dreadful start to move two shots off the lead after a 69. Verplank carded a bogey and double bogey in his first four holes, but had just one blemish the rest of the way while making four birdies.

Steve Stricker (69) was another shot back at 4-under 206, followed by D.A. Points (71) and Denmark's Anders Hansen (70). None of the top seven have won a major championship, and only Stricker has been in Sunday contention.

"Everybody is going to be dealing with their nerves and the pressure of trying to win," said Stricker, at No.5 the top American in this week's world rankings. "I think it's who can keep it together the best and be patient and play some good golf."

That wasn't easy for anyone at AAC's Highlands layout, which has given up more double bogeys and worse through three rounds (324) than any previous PGA Championship.

"It's that kind of course," said world No.1 Luke Donald, whose midday charge moved him to 4-under before a bogey and double bogey in his last four holes. "It does offer some birdie opportunities, but there are some tough [holes] that you've got to weather."

Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (66) was part of a five-way tie for eighth along with Adam Scott (70), who won last week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

No.2 Lee Westwood was in position to threaten until a double bogey at No.14, finishing six shots off the pack.

Phil Mickelson, too, moved into contender range with four birdies spanning the middle of his round. But he bogeyed the par-3 15th, and a three-putt bogey at No.18 dropped him back to even-par for the week.

David Toms, winner of the 2001 PGA at Atlanta AC, moved into the top 10 with a 65 that left him five shots off the pace. His round included a 30 on AAC's tough back nine. U.S. Open champ Rory McIlroy fell near the bottom with a 74, his right wrist still taped after Thursday's encounter with a tree root.

jshain@tribune.com. Read Jeff Shain's blog, The Downswing, at OrlandoSentinel.com/golfblog.