Davis dazzles to share lead

Brian Davis: 11 under for the week on the front nine at TPC River Highlands

England's Brian Davis and American Roland Thatcher came out of the pack to move two shots clear at the Travelers Championship.

Davis fired seven birdies in his first eight holes to make the turn in 29 on his way to a third-round 64, pushing him to the top of the leaderboard.

The Londoner, who is still searching for his maiden PGA Tour win, is best known for calling a penalty on himself during a play-off with Jim Furyk at the 2010 Verizon Heritage, denying himself the chance of victory.

"It was just one of those days I came out hot," Davis, who had a bogey and a birdie on his back nine, said. "Every club was the perfect club. I seemed to be hitting my shots in the right spot where I had an uphill putt."

Davis is now 11-under on the front nine for the week at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell.

He is joined on 12 under par by Thatcher, who missed the chance to be out in front on his own when he bogeyed the 17th, meaning he signed for a 65.

The pair find themselves ahead of a trio of players - Americans John Rollins (65) and James Driscoll (66) and Australian Stuart Appleby (67).

Slipped back

Overnight leader Fredrik Jacobsen slipped back to nine under after a level-par 70 to remain locked together with Charley Hoffman, his nearest challenger along with Nathan Green when thunderstorms halted play on Friday.

Hoffman had been on a run of five successive birdies the previous night but ended up with a third successive 67 that means he is three shots off the pace.

The pair were joined on nine under by Padraig Harrington, who made seven birdies in eight holes from the sixth in a vintage performance, Matt Kuchar, Tim Clark and Will Claxton.

The group at eight under features Masters champion and 2010 winner Bubba Watson, Camilo Villegas, Robert Karlsson and Chez Reavie, while Webb Simpson and Keegan Bradley were seven under and four under respectively.

First-round leader David Mathis was a surprise figure heading home a day early after a secondary cut was applied. The American followed his opening 64 with rounds of 73 and 74 to end his participation.