In addition, sizzling Troy Matteson is just two shots back after a 7-under 64, the day’s best score.

“Today wind control (was) very tough,” said Choi, who scored one of his three tour victories on this course four years ago.

“Innisbrook is very comfortable and now confidence in swing and mind is good. My swing (is) working very good and today is stronger than (Friday).”

Playing with a new driver that Els said “sounds like a tuna fish can with a shaft in it,” Choi hit only three fairways on the front nine but was more under control coming home. He may sleep well knowing he is a perfect 3-for-3 when leading into the final round on tour.

Els described the leader as a steady player who doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.

“He’s a very consistent striker,” Els said. “He doesn’t hit too many loose shots. He’s won here before, so you can see he knows how to play the course.”

A three-time major champion and former top-ranked player, Els cuts a formidable figure on a leaderboard otherwise lacking any star quality. But his confidence is not exactly sky high as he is winless in 23 worldwide starts this season, playing his way back from last year’s knee surgery.

“(A win) can really change my year,” Els said. “I play to win.

It hasn’t happened, but I’m working toward getting better and I’d love to get to Hawaii (for the Mercedes Championships, for 2006 winners only).

“The last three months, I’ve really been thinking about winning, because I feel over my injury finally and I could go ahead and start working on my swing, instead of trying to avoid the injury. I can’t say I’m going to walk over them (Sunday). It’s not that easy.”

Els still is not at the peak of his game, hitting the occasional sloppy shot. Poor drives led to back-to-back bogeys at ninth and 10th holes before he regrouped at the par-5 11th, where he splashed a delightful bunker from 45 yards for a tap-in birdie.

“Things were unraveling at that point quickly,” he said. “That was a big shot to make birdie there. I’ve been playing pretty good the last couple of days, a couple of loose holes here and there, but mostly I’ve played solidly.

“Thank goodness there was a bit of rain last night to soften things a bit. The wind was blustery and it was tough to judge your club. It’s such a fine edge we’re on.”

Nobody has more momentum than Matteson, who has finished first and second the past two weeks.

“This course is a little tighter coming down the stretch and it’s hard to break away from the pack, just with how tough this course plays,” he said.