A challenging Oak Hill course has taken a toll on early starters in the final round of the PGA Championship, setting the stage for a dramatic afternoon trophy showdown.

American Jim Furyk held the lead on nine-under par 201 on Sunday with countryman Jason Dufner one shot back, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson two back and Jonas Blixt three adrift.

Kerry Haigh, the Englishman who serves as the PGA of America’s chief championships officer, warns the layout offers early openings for shotmaking but toughens late.

“Players have a lot of opportunities to make birdie or better out there,” Haigh said. “But then you better tighten your belt.”

Among early starters, Germany’s Martin Kaymer birdied three of the first four holes and England’s Ian Poulter birdied four of the first six only to bogey five of the next six, while British Open winner Phil Mickelson made a triple bogey at 5 and a double bogey at 7 on his way to a two-over 72 and a 12-over 292 finish.

And South Africa’s Tim Clark aced the par-3 11th hole.

Furyk, whose lone major title came at the 2003 US Open, was one of only two players to break par all three days.

But the 43-year-old American has not won a title since the 2010 US PGA Tour Championship and squandered four 54-hole leads last year, including at the US Open.

Reigning Masters champion Adam Scott of Australia and 46-year-old US veteran Steve Stricker were on 205 with defending champion Rory McIlroy and England’s Lee Westwood, whose 61 major starts without a win are the most of any active player, sharing seventh on 207.