* Two early birdies earn Dufner two-shot lead
* Compatriot Bradley alone in second place (Updates after leaders complete nine holes)
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
The 34-year-old got up and down from just short of the green at the driveable par-four sixth and then drained a 25-footer at the par-four eighth to tighten his grip on the year's final major.
American players are bidding to end an unprecedented run of six majors without a champion and so far Dufner has looked completely unflappable on a steaming hot day.
PGA Tour rookie Keegan Bradley had earlier been tied for the lead but he bogeyed the par-four ninth after finding bunkers off the tee and with his approach to slip back to seven under overall.
Tall Swede Robert Karlsson was a further stroke back, having rattled up four birdies in the first 11 holes.
British world number one Luke Donald, Dane Anders Hansen and American veterans David Toms and Scott Verplank were tied for fourth at five under.
Donald, hunting his first major title, had completed 14 holes, Hansen 10, 2001 PGA champion Toms 11 and the 47-year-old Verplank nine.
Verplank is bidding to become the second oldest player to win a major championship, compatriot Julius Boros having clinched the 1968 PGA Championship aged 48.
PGA Tour rookie Brendan Steele, joint pacesetter with Dufner overnight and, like Bradley competing in his first major championship, tumbled backwards with four bogeys on the front nine.
* Compatriot Bradley alone in second place (Updates after leaders complete nine holes)
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
JOHNS CREEK, Georgia, Aug 14 (Reuters) - American journeyman Jason Dufner moved two strokes clear on a surprising leaderboard after nine holes in the PGA Championship final round on Sunday as his closest challengers all faltered.
Dufner, who tied for fifth in last year's PGA Championship at Whistling Straits but has yet to win a PGA Tour title, birdied the sixth and eighth to get to nine under par in dazzling sunshine at Atlanta Athletic Club.The 34-year-old got up and down from just short of the green at the driveable par-four sixth and then drained a 25-footer at the par-four eighth to tighten his grip on the year's final major.
American players are bidding to end an unprecedented run of six majors without a champion and so far Dufner has looked completely unflappable on a steaming hot day.
PGA Tour rookie Keegan Bradley had earlier been tied for the lead but he bogeyed the par-four ninth after finding bunkers off the tee and with his approach to slip back to seven under overall.
Tall Swede Robert Karlsson was a further stroke back, having rattled up four birdies in the first 11 holes.
British world number one Luke Donald, Dane Anders Hansen and American veterans David Toms and Scott Verplank were tied for fourth at five under.
Donald, hunting his first major title, had completed 14 holes, Hansen 10, 2001 PGA champion Toms 11 and the 47-year-old Verplank nine.
Verplank is bidding to become the second oldest player to win a major championship, compatriot Julius Boros having clinched the 1968 PGA Championship aged 48.
PGA Tour rookie Brendan Steele, joint pacesetter with Dufner overnight and, like Bradley competing in his first major championship, tumbled backwards with four bogeys on the front nine.
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