Luke Donald, who won the week after being picked for the 2006 Ryder Cup, made a dream start at the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Two behind Australian Jason Day entering the final round, Donald almost holed his 119-yard pitch to the first and then birdied the long second as well with a nine-foot putt.

That put him level with Day on 17 under par, one ahead of American Brandt Snedeker.

With Tiger Woods joint 21st with seven holes to play both Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker had a chance to grab the world number one spot at the second of the FedEx Cup play-off series.

Defending champion Stricker needed a win and resumed in joint fourth spot, but missed the green on the first and had his first bogey of a tournament that was finishing on Monday because of the Labor Day public holiday in the States.

For Mickelson a top four finish might do it and his birdie on the second lifted him into a tie for fourth, but he was bunkered on the short next and returned to 12 under.