BLOOMFIELD HILLS, August 10, 2008 (AFP) - Andres Romero pushed scoring to the limit as changing conditions at Oakland Hills allowed golfers to shoot lower scores on Saturday at the rain-interrupted PGA Championship.

Argentina's Romero tied the course record by shooting a five-under 65 in the final major championship of the season before third round play was postponed until Sunday.

'I played an excellent round,' Romero said. 'Almost perfect. Yesterday I finished very nice and now with this round I can't believe it. I have a chance for tomorrow.'

The 27-year-old Romero rolled in seven birdies and made two bogeys to shoot the lowest round in the tournament so far and move to two-over 212 total before competition was called off because of steady rain. A total of 48 players will have to finish their third rounds early Sunday.

Organizers on Saturday moved tee boxes up, watered the fairways and mowed the rough around the greens after players complained on Friday that the Oakland Hills setup was unfair and didn't reward good shots.

'The greens were a bit softer,' Romero said of Saturday's conditions. 'The rough is difficult. But the most important thing is I played great fairways and greens the whole round.'

Romero, who is ranked 27th in the world, began the day tied for 48th but vaulted into eighth place.

Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng wasted no time picking up where he left off in Saturday's third round.

Prayad, who is the top money earner on the Japan Golf Tour this year, rolled in five birdies through his first 11 holes Saturday to rocket up the leaderboard.

'I was very focused on my game today,' Prayad said. 'My confidence has been building the last two days. I played very well yesterday as well.'

Prayad was on the 18th hole when play was stopped because of a fast moving thunderstorm.

With rain clouds moving in play was initially suspended at 2:15 pm (1815 GMT) forcing the players to leave the course and take shelter in the locker room.

Organizers then called off play for the day over four hours later as the thunderstorms continued to rumble through the Detroit-area course.

The third round will continue early Sunday followed immediately by the fourth round.

There were three pairings that were unable to tee off before the rain delay including second round leader JB Holmes who was in the final pairing with Charlie Wi.

Holmes brandished his iron game Friday by shooting a two-under par 68.

Holmes is at one-under 139 total just ahead of England's Justin Rose and Ben Curtis who shared the low round of the day on Friday with 67. They were at even par with Wi (70).

Phil Mickelson was one of the few up near the top of the leaderboard that started his round on Saturday. He made bogey on his first hole Saturday but then birdied the second and was even-par through five holes before the rain delay. He is four shots adrift of Holmes.