Australia's Robert Allenby is three shots behind leader Brian Gay in outright third after the third round of the St Jude Classic PGA Tour event in Memphis.

Allenby is third at 11-under 199 after his round of two-under 68, followed by Paul Goydos a stroke further back on 200 with a 64.

Gay is 18 holes away from finishing off a dominating victory at the St. Jude Classic that would earn him a place in next week's US Open.

He shot a second consecutive four-under 66 on Saturday to keep the lead by a stroke over Bryce Molder after the third round at the TPC Southwind.

Gay, who won at Hilton Head in April can earn an Open berth with a second win this year.

He has just five bogeys this week, and his only one on Saturday came on 18 after his second shot from a fairway bunker hit the water.

That dropped him to 14-under 196.

For someone who expected to be off next week after he missed qualifying by three strokes, Gay said he wasn't thinking about the Open yet.

"Not when I'm out there, I don't think about it," Gay said.

"I mean it's a major. I'd love to play in it. "I expected to be off next week ... I've got enough work to do here to not have to worry about that. Nothing I need to think about."

Australia's John Senden had a 69 to be tied for 14th on six-under-par 204.

Phil Mickelson shot a 68 and was on 206 in his first event since announcing his wife's diagnosis of breast cancer, and says he has to work on his putting for the US Open.

John Daly's comeback to the US PGA Tour stretched into the weekend as he made the cut in this storm-delayed event on the line at even par.

He shot a 71 that had him one-over.

AP