ATLANTA -- Kenny Perry birdied four consecutive holes to start Saturday's third round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club, shot 64 and, at 8 under, will take a two-shot lead into the final day.Tiger Woods posted 69, and is in second place at 6 under, but continues to hold the inside track for the FedEx Cup title and $10 million in bonus money.
Even if Perry holds on Sunday and wins, Woods still claims the FedEx Cup with any finish better than a three-way tie for third.
Phil Mickelson shot 66 to join Sean O'Hair (70) in a tie for third at 4 under. Padraig Harrington (71) and Steve Marino (67) are five shots back to 3 under.
Perry, who turned 49 in August, started Saturday in a sprint, beginning the birdie string with a four-foot putt at No. 1. On the par-3 second hole, he stiffed a tee shot to seven feet, knocked his 105-yard approach shot at No. 3 to three feet, and then dropped an eight-foot putt at No. 4.
"I wasn't expecting that kind of start, especially on this golf course," Perry said. "But I'm driving it great. I was splitting the fairways early in the round and I was having short shots and able to take advantage of the wedges into the green early.
"I was able to set the tempo early and it just relaxed me. It was a very comfortable round of golf."
He finished the day with seven birdies, and a single bogey.
Woods was far from his sharpest, missing a number of make-able birdie putts, chunking a sand shot and walked off the course less than satisfied.
Mickelson, who has come back with rounds of 67-66 after opening with a first-day 73, was more than happy.
"It was a fun day," he said. "It feels great. I haven't been in contention since the Open. It's been a few months, mainly because of my putting. I look back on Thursday where I threw six shots away from three holes. Otherwise, I'd be leading. But to come back the way I have and play the way I have, I feel like I'm playing some really good golf. No matter how many shots back I am, I think I'll still be a factor."
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Kenny Perry watches his approach shot to the 14th hole during the third round of the Tour Championship golf tournament at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
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Kenny Perry hits from the sand on the 15th hole during the third round of the Tour Championship golf tournament at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
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Kenny Perry hits his second shot on the par-5 15th hole during the third round of the Tour Championship golf tournament at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
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Kenny Perry reacts on the 17th green following the third round of the Tour Championship golf tournament at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
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Kenny Perry tips his cap on the 18th green following the third round of the Tour Championship golf tournament at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
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Sean O'Hair chips to the first green during the third round of the Tour Championship golf tournament at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
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Tiger Woods, front left, leads Padraig Harrington of Ireland and their caddies down the first fairway during the third round of the Tour Championship golf tournament at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
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ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 26: Kenny Perry waits with his son/caddie Justin on the eighth hole during the third round of THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, the final event of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedEx Cup, at East Lake Golf Club on September 26, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kenny Perry:Justin Perry
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** RECOPPED VERSION ** Tiger Woods watches his tee shot on the third hole during the third round of the Tour Championship golf tournament at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
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Tiger Woods watches his tee shot on the third hole during the third round of the Tour Championship golf tournament at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
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