Former European Ryder Cup Bernard Gallacher has backed Westwood to hold his nerve and win his first major.
McIlroy's European Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose leads the way on five-under-par alongside Irish Open champion Jamie Donaldson.
Laird, bidding to make the European Ryder Cup team, moved into contention with an eight-under 64 in benign conditions.
Wilson will have to be at his best on Sunday after a stunning performance by former European Ryder Cup captain Langer.
Despite not qualifying for the tournament, European Ryder Cup captain Montgomerie will travel to Pebble Beach to cast his eye over the Europeans.
Meanwhile, Colin Montgomerie looked haunted by his off-course problems as the European Ryder Cup captain endured a dismal start to his third round.
He took further titles at the KLM Open and Dunhill Links Championship and in-between those events played alongside McDowell in the European Ryder Cup team.
He has a three shot advantage over Scott Jamieson, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Peter Hanson, who is one of three European Ryder Cup players in the field.
One of three wildcard picks by Montgomerie, Donald was the only member of the European Ryder Cup team competing in a field of 30 at East Lake.
It was his second tournament win after the Italian Open last year and has boosted his hopes of claiming a place in this year's European Ryder Cup team.
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The Spaniard probably needs to finish in the top three at the USPGA to have any chance of playing his way on to the European Ryder Cup team.
Stenson, 30, won the Qatar Masters in January and at second on the European Ryder Cup world points list is seemingly set to make his debut at the K Club in September.
Is it any coincidence that the Golf Channel prominently featured endless commentary by well-known European Ryder Cup aces Colin Montgomerie and Nick Faldo? (and those two were often supported by other Europeans on-air).
Donald, who is now guaranteed to occupy the No. 1 position heading into the Masters next month, backed his European Ryder Cup teammate to maintain his challenge at the top of the sport.
The Italian, whose brother Edoardo halved with Fowler in singles play at Celtic Manor in 2010, moved up to 10th place on the European Ryder Cup standings after winning by three shots in Seville.
Northern Irish pair Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell gave some likely pointers to watching European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie with wins in both the morning and afternoon sessions, going out first for GB and Ireland.
McDowell, who was second overnight, regained a share of top spot when playing partner Johnson dropped three shots on the second hole and, as the American fell further behind, the European Ryder Cup star was never again headed.
"It was a perfect round of golf and a great start to a tournament that is very important to me, " said Manassero who was delighted by the successes of the Molinari brothers in making the European Ryder Cup team.
Donald is now up to fourth in the race to qualify for the European Ryder Cup team and has no doubt that his debut in Detroit two years ago helped him win at Mirasol in Palm Beach Gardens, where he now owns a house.
But the Englishman could end Tiger Woods' five-year reign at the top of the rankings this weekend at the Dunhill Championship in Scotland, an event that will feature eight of his European Ryder Cup team-mates as well as captain Colin Montgomerie and the Scot's assistants Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke.
McIlroy's closest European rival, Ryder Cup teammate Peter Hanson, chose not to play in Singapore and will not line up again until Dubai.
The 34-year-old is outside the top 10 on either the European or world Ryder Cup ranking list, and as it stands would have to rely on the generosity of Woosnam for a wildcard.
Despite telling contributions to European glory at the Ryder Cup and English success at golf's World Cup, Casey is perhaps best known for briefly replacing Osama Bin Laden at the top of America's most wanted list.
With European captain Jose Maria Olazabal picking his Ryder Cup team Monday, Harrington knows this is the last chance to stake a claim for a wild card pick.
Meanwhile, Padraig Harrington has said that being a European wildcard pick has reignited his enthusiasm for the Ryder Cup.
Inspirational and flamboyant, Ballesteros won five major championships, revolutionized the European Tour and revelled in the passion of a Ryder Cup battle with the United States.
On Sunday NBC commentators were left to speculate how the U.S. team which looked better on paper could collapse in such grand fashion (or how the European team could stage one of the greatest comebacks in Ryder Cup history).
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Swedish Ryder Cup star Pierre Fulke was the worst of the European contingent at 21 over par.
The European Tour rocks on until early December, the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup matches trade midautumn time slots in alternate years, and Asian tours are picking up steam.
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