Ko vaults into lead at Women's PGA Championship

World number one Lydia Ko, who is seeking her third straight major championship title, fired a one-under 70 for a one-shot lead after the third round of the Women's PGA Championship. 

The 19-year-old Kiwi made bogey on the final hole to finish at two-under 211 as she has a 54-hole lead in a major championship for the first time in her career.

Ko won the 2015 Evian Championship and 2016 ANA Inspiration and with a victory on Sunday she would become the first to win three consecutive majors since Park In-Bee in 2013.

Ko came from behind to win both of her major titles.

On Saturday, she had a one-shot lead on 18 when her ball bounced off a tree near the green on the par-four 423-yard finishing hole at the Sahalee Country Club course near Seattle, Washington.

That gave Brittany Lincicome had a chance to take a share of the lead with Ko, but the American three-putted the 18th for a bogey and a 71.

Gerina Piller failed to connect on a 35-foot putt on 18 which would have moved her into a tie with Ko. The American finished with a par and a 71 to tie Lincicome for second place.

All three will play in the final group Sunday.

Canada's Brooke Henderson, who led after the first and second rounds, recorded a second straight 73 and was two shots behind in a tie for fourth with Amy Yang (66) of South Korea, Ariya Jutanugarn (68) of Thailand, Chella Choi (69) of South Korea, Anna Nordqvist (69) of Sweden and Lee Mi-Rim (73) of South Korea.

Source: AFP