Troy Matteson shot a 5-under-par 66 Saturday to take a three-shot lead into the final round at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill.

Steve Stricker, who also shot a 66, sits in second place at 15 under in his quest for a fourth straight tournament title. Stricker birdied four straight holes beginning at the 14th, but bogeyed the par-4 18th, stubbing a chip shot and missing a 15-footer for par.

Both Matteson and Stricker bogeyed the last hole, setting up their final-round pairing together at TPC Deere Run, where Stricker, a Wisconsin native who was an All-American at Illinois, has become a local favorite by winning the last three years.

Former Masters champion Zach Johnson also carded a 66 to climb into contention at 14 under, along with lefthander Brian Harman.

Billy Hurley, J.J. Henry, and 2006 champion John Senden are tied for fifth, five strokes behind. Hurley’s 64 matched the best round of the day, while Senden eagled the par-5 second hole en route to a bogey-free 67.

‘‘It’s great for me if I win,’’ said Matteson. ‘‘If Stricker wins, it’s a really big story.’’

Stricker is attempting to join Tom Morris Jr., Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, and Tiger Woods as a winner four straight times in the same tournament. Woods has accomplished the feat twice.

‘‘I can’t even believe three years have gone by,’’ said Stricker, who was five strokes behind Matteson at one point during the back nine.

His 76-yard wedge shot to the par-4 14th green landed 2 feet from the hole to set up the first of four straight birdies. He sank a 5-footer at the 15th, a 6-footer at the 16th, and an 11-footer at the par-5 17th after missing the fairway with his tee shot and sending his approach into a greenside bunker.

Champions — Bernhard Langer shot a 6-under 64 to surge into the lead by four strokes at the US Senior Open in Lake Orion, Mich.

Langer, who moved to 10 under for the tournament, opened with three straight birdies and eight in 12 holes. The 54-year-old two-time Masters champion had a double bogey at 13 and a bogey at 18 to give the field a glimmer of hope heading into the final round.

Tom Lehman and Corey Pavin were in a five-way tie for second at 6-under 204.

Fred Couples moved up the leaderboard with a 65. He was part of a pack with Fred Funk and Jay Haas that was five shots back at the Champion Tour’s fourth of five majors.

European — Francesco Molinari held off a barrage of challengers at the Scottish Open by shooting a bogey-free 5-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead into the final round at Inverness.

The Italian, who held the overnight lead with Alexander Noren, remained consistent to stay in front at 17 under. Anders Hansen trails Molinari after shooting a 65.

Soren Kjeldsen and Marc Warren, who holed an amazing 80-foot putt for eagle on No. 16, are two strokes behind Molinari after 64s — the lowest rounds of the day along with Martin Laird. Hansen upstaged his top-ranked playing partner Luke Donald (68), while Phil Mickelson also had a 65 to join three others trailing the leader by three shots.