NEW ORLEANS -- By all rights, Joe Durant should have been done, well done in fact -- especially on a Saturday, a.k.a. moving day on the PGA TOUR.

Durant, the second-round leader by three shots at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, was doing some moving all right in blustery winds that blew steady at approximately 25-30 mph. In the wrong direction with his gear shift stuck firmly in reverse.

Three-over-par 39s on the front nine of the third round will do that to just about anyone, including a leader sporting a comfortable margin at the halfway point. Durant, who fired an eight-under-par 64 in Friday’s second round at English Turn Golf and Country Club, was fading into an afterthought after Chris Couch and Charles Howell III went out early and rocketed to the top before howling winds began playing tricks with golf balls and bruising many a golfer’s ego.

Couch, who has missed seven of nine cuts in 2006 and made the 36-hole on the number, found the magic to match Durant’s tournament-best 64, despite a bogey on the last, to rocket to the top at 12-under, exactly where Durant started Saturday. Howell, in a season-long slump, posted a 66, his best number of the year, to move into second, one stroke behind the surprise leader.

Durant, meanwhile, was having a world of trouble, following a season-long pattern of a lack of consistency through 72 holes. And it was showing up from hole to hole as Durant made two pars in his first 13. The bad news was, Durant was on life support through 10 holes at 4-over for the day. The good news is he self- corrected after 10, birdied Nos. 11, 12 (on an improbable hole-out from heavy greenside rough) and 13 and resurrected his chances for his first victory in more than five seasons.

All Durant, 42, could do after his wind-blown, roller-coaster round of 73, which left in a tie for second with Howell, was smile.

“There are no pictures on the scorecard,’’ he said.

Durant knew he was in trouble on the practice range. He was hitting full pitching wedges that were traveling approximately 70 yards into the teeth of the wind. He normally hits it 130. His second shot on the first hole -- a knock-down 7-iron from 115 yards -- confirmed his suspicions. It came up 15 yards short as he hitched a ride on the bogey train, the first of seven he had on his card.

“I said, ‘Uh-oh.’ The wind made clubbing almost impossible,’’ Durant said. “About the only thing you could do out there was stay patient.’’

But there were times when that was difficult and Durant had his doubts. Walking off the 10th green after his third consecutive bogey sunk him to eight-under for the tournament was his lowest moment.

“I thought, ‘This is something else,’" he said. “I started wondering if I was going to break 80. But in retrospect I never got too down on myself. You can’t give up out there."

Durant made birdie on the par-5 11th, getting it up and down from over the green in two and then added some spice with the hole-out on the par-3 12th. He followed with a 40-foot birdie bomb on 13.

“The shot on 12 was the shot of the day for me,’’ he said. “I went long and left with a pitching wedge (tee shot). Had a really tough lie. The ball broke four feet once it got on the green.’’

Joe Durant holed out from the greenside rough on No. 12 for birdie. (Shamus/ WireImage)

Durant ended a most unusual day in style, making a 26-foot birdie putt on the 18th and then reflected on the happenings. For instance, Couch as well as Dean Wilson and Cameron Beckman, who are tied for fourth at 10-under-par, were finished their rounds before Durant struck his first tee ball.

Durant, who has made seven of 10 cuts in 2006, but only with a best finish of a tie for 36th, laughed.

“That’s a position I haven’t been in in a while,’’ he said. “Normally I’m the guy eating lunch and going to the range when the leaders tee off. But that’s a perfect example of what can happen when the wind blows like this. You get out early and have a chance. I figured if I finished 12-, 13- or 14-under I would have played a good round of golf.’’

Durant was no different than the rest of those going late Saturday. Only two of the last 20 to tee off -- rookie Matt Hansen (70 for a tie for sixth) and J.P. Hayes (71 for a tie for 13th) -- broke par. So Durant’s 73 was nothing to complain about, considering his position in the final pairing with non-winner Couch on Sunday.

“It has been a long time between wins,’’ said Durant. “I’m working my butt off to get myself back in that position. I would love to win here.’’