Ireland's Padraig Harrington played yet another rollercoaster pair-up with Tiger Woods at the Tour Championship in Atlanta Saturday.

However, both will need to overcome America Kenny Perry who surged past overnight leader Tiger Woods Saturday, to win the Tour Championship.

Perry - who shot a 6-under 64 to finish at 8-under on 202 - now has a two-shot lead over Tiger Woods who battled all day with Harrington. Woods shot a 1-under 69 to finish at 204 for the day while Harrington shot a 1-over 71 to finish at 207.

Woods and Harrington continued their private duel from the first hole where Woods' lead vanished as Harrington birdied.

Woods tiptoed back in front on the 2nd hole with a birdie but then Harrington posted a birdie on the 3rd before doubling up on bogeys at the 4th and the 5th.

Woods bogeyed the 7th, Harrington birdied the 8th, Woods bogeyed the 10th and then shoehorned himself back into level pegging with a birdie on the 11th while Harrington dropped behind with a bogey on the 12th.

All eyes might have been on Woods v Harrington but Kenny Perry was having a superb day and will be paired with Woods on Sunday.

Perry birdied the 12th and 15th and shot a 64 to take a two-shot lead over Woods. Phil Mickelson and Sean O'Hair are third with 206 each and Harrington is fourth with Steve Marino at 207.

Play was brought forward by three hours at the Atlanta course to try and get the players out ahead of the heavy rain which was forecast Saturday.