American journeyman Paul Goydos held his nerve in testing conditions to edge one shot clear in the Players Championship third round on Saturday.
A stroke off the pace overnight, Goydos delivered another superb putting display on the slick greens at the TPC at Sawgrass to stay on track for his third PGA Tour title.
The 43-year-old lipped out with a birdie attempt from 14 feet at the last before ending a sweltering day with a two-under-par 70.
That left him at seven-under 209, one ahead of second-round pace-setter Kenny Perry, who returned a 72.
”The greens here are perfect and things have dropped, for three rounds anyways,” Goydos told reporters after needing only 26 putts. ”I like the Bermuda grass and I have seen the lines.
”My caddie has done an outstanding job. We’ve agreed just about every time I’ve asked him to come in and look. It’s been one of those weeks.”
Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who vied for the lead with playing partner Goydos for much of the day, bogeyed four of the last six holes for a 73 and third place at four under.
Defending champion Phil Mickelson was a further two strokes adrift in a tie for fourth after firing a 71 that featured five birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey at the par-four 14th.
Goydos, who clinched his first PGA Tour victory in more than a decade at last year’s Sony Open in Hawaii, stayed in the title hunt by reaching the turn in one-under 35.
Edging ahead
He rammed in a 20-foot birdie putt at the par-four 10th to edge ahead of the pack before bogeying the 14th after ending up well short of the green in two.
However, he picked up his fifth shot of the day at the treacherous par-three 17th where he struck his tee shot to nine feet on the island green and came close to stealing another birdie at the last.
”Paul played very nicely,” Garcia said. ”He kept himself under control at all times. It seemed like every time he made a mistake, he came back with a birdie, so that always helps.”
Mickelson, bidding to become the first back-to-back winner in the tournament’s history, stayed in touch with the leaders despite his mishap at the 14th where he pushed his tee shot into water.
”I’m playing well enough to shoot 67 or 68 out here,” the left-hander said after finishing level with fellow American Jeff Quinney (70) and veteran German Bernhard Langer (75).
”I don’t feel I’m that far off. We’ve got one more round and I’m starting to play pretty well.
”At least I’m within striking distance. Although I haven’t been getting out of the round what I feel I need to or should, I’m playing well.”
Three-time Major winner Mickelson has set his sights on a fast start in Sunday’s final round.
”I’m not in a position where they’re going to be thinking about me yet,” he said. ”I’ve got to play well for the first 12, 13 holes probably before I can make enough birdies to have them take notice.” — Reuters