Kenny Perry birdied six of his first nine holes en route to a course record-tying nine-under-par 61 and an eight-stroke lead after the third round of the Colonial.
A 17-year veteran seeking his fifth career title, Perry shared the 36-hole lead with good friend Dan Forsman, but he opened and closed the front nine with a string of three straight birdies to build a five-stroke lead.
With a 29 on the front side, Perry matched the second-best nine-hole total in tournament history, a stroke off the mark Wayne Levi set in 1993.
His 61 tied Keith Clearwater, Lee Janzen (1993) and Greg Kraft (1999) for the lowest ever at the Colonial. At 17-under 193, he also broke by a shot the 54-hole tournament mark held by Scott Simpson and David Ogrin (1997). It could have been even better.
Perry left five birdie putts within a foot of the hole, missing from distances of eight-and-a-half, 13 and 17 feet over the last four holes alone.
Perry had three birdies on the back side as he easily pulled away from the field. First-round leader Rory Sabbatini of South Africa is second at nine-under 201.
Following three benign days at Colonial Country Club, it appears only those infamous winds can bring the rest of the field back into contention.
No one has ever blown a 54-hole lead of more than seven strokes at the Colonial. Nick Price rallied from seven shots down to win in 1994.
Jim Furyk is third at eight-under 202, a stroke ahead of Hal Sutton, Stewart Cink and Jeff Sluman.
Sutton enjoyed a hole-in-one at the 16th on his way to a 65, matching the second-best round of the day.