Vijay Singh survived an early battle with American Will MacKenzie and a late charge by Australia's Adam Scott to take control of the Mercedes-Benz Championship on Saturday.
The former world number one moved three shots clear after firing a three-under-par 70 in a breezy third round at the Kapalua Resort.
Runner-up here twice in the last three years, Fijian Singh rattled up five birdies and two bogeys for a 54-hole total of 11-under 208 in the PGA Tour's season-opening event.
Scott, winner of the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta two months ago, birdied five of the last seven holes for a 69 and a share of second place with South Africa's Trevor Immelman (72).
"It would be a great way to start the year if I can win but I think it's going to be a tough day tomorrow," Scott told reporters. "Vijay is going to be difficult to catch and I need a really good score."
Little-known MacKenzie slipped back after a steady performance over the front nine, a 73 leaving him tied for fourth at seven under with big-hitting compatriot J.B. Holmes (71).
Singh, who has triumphed only once in his last 35 PGA Tour starts, began the day one stroke clear of the chasing pack.
After bogeying the treacherous 218-yard second, the most difficult par-three hole on last year's PGA Tour, he twice surrendered his lead to MacKenzie over the first seven holes.
TIGHTENED GRIP
Helped by a curling 50-foot birdie putt at the par-three eighth, Singh regained his one-shot cushion by reaching the turn in one-under 35 before tightening his grip on the tournament.
He hit a superb approach to within six feet of the flag at the par-four 14th to stretch his lead to three and rolled in a 19-footer at the par-four 17th to keep Scott at bay.
MacKenzie, a professional kayaker who enjoys snowboarding, surfing and rock climbing, lost momentum over the closing stretch.
A missed three-footer for par at the 11th was the first of three bogeys in five holes before he rallied with a birdie at the par-five last.
"It was a little bit of a rollercoaster day," said the 32-year from North Carolina, who qualified for the 34-strong field in Hawaii with his maiden PGA Tour victory at last year's Reno-Tahoe Open.
"It was tough out there and you still had to solid golf shots. I hit some good shots and I hit some bad shots. I'm not terribly displeased with how I played."
This week's event launches the inaugural FedExCup, a season-long points competition culminating in a four-event playoff series with $10 million to be won by the overall champion.
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