Lee Westwood takes two shot lead into final round at Sawgrass

Lee Westwood maintained his lead at the Players Championship in Florida but faces another Sunday battle with Bryson DeChambeau.

Westwood finished runner-up to DeChambeau at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last weekend and holds a two-shot lead over the American after three rounds at Sawgrass.

Westwood, who is looking to become the first Englishman to win the event, has been rock solid so far and did not drop a shot in a four-under-par round of 68 on Saturday to move to 13 under.

After shooting all pars on the front nine, the 47-year-old began to take his chances coming home with birdies at the 10th, 12th, 16th and, most memorably, the fearsome 17th.

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Ireland’s Shane Lowry sits eight shots off the lead on five under par after he carded a 69 on Saturday - he is in a six-way share of 16th place.

DeChambeau carded a 67, making his move with hat-trick of birdies from the 10th to reach 11 under.

The 27-year-old praised Westwood, saying: “His driving is impeccable, his iron play is impeccable and he makes putts when he needs to. Fortunately for me last week I was able to get the job done, and I think tomorrow is going to be an incredible battle.”

The round of the day came from American Justin Thomas, who carded an eight-under 64 to move to 10 under par. He birdied the first four holes while the highlight was an eagle at 16.

Thomas said: “I wish all rounds were that easy. I hit the ball beautifully, I drove it well. I just know that I have to stay patient out here because you can make a lot of birdies.”

Thomas is tied with fellow American Doug Ghim while Paul Casey is the second Englishman on the leaderboard a further shot back after a second consecutive 67.

He hit an eagle at the second and went out in 31 before three birdies and three bogeys on the way home.

“Cracking front nine, wasn’t it?” said Casey. “And then messed things up a little bit on the back nine, but that’s the way this golf course is. You’re always on the hairy edge of disaster.”

Spaniard Jon Rahm and American Brian Harman also sit on nine under while England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, who began the day in second, is among a group on eight under following a disappointing 72.

Collated third round scores & totals in the USPGA Tour The Players Championship, TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, United States of America (USA unless stated, Par 72):

203 Lee Westwood (Eng) 69 66 68

205 Bryson DeChambeau 69 69 67

206 Doug Ghim 71 67 68, Justin Thomas 71 71 64

207 Paul Casey (Eng) 73 67 67, Brian Harman 67 71 69, Jon Rahm (Spa) 72 68 67

208 Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng) 68 68 72, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 65 72 71, Chris Kirk 72 65 71

209 Si Woo Kim (Kor) 72 70 67, Cameron Smith (Aus) 71 73 65

210 Abraham Ancer (Mex) 72 70 68, Talor Gooch 71 68 71, Ryan Palmer 70 72 68

211 Harry Higgs 71 73 67, Tom Hoge 69 71 71, Patton Kizzire 70 69 72, Adam Long 70 74 67, Shane Lowry (Irl) 68 74 69, Will Zalatoris 70 71 70

212 Corey Conners (Can) 68 72 72, Jason Day (Aus) 70 71 71, Lanto Griffin 73 71 68, Patrick Reed 70 72 70, Jordan Spieth 70 74 68

213 Ryan Armour 74 68 71, Daniel Berger 74 68 71, Christiaan Bezuidenhout (Rsa) 70 72 71, Scott Brown 71 70 72, Jason Kokrak 70 72 71, Denny McCarthy 69 69 75, Tyler McCumber 72 69 72, Victor Perez (Fra) 73 71 69, J. T. Poston 76 68 69

214 Adam Hadwin (Can) 74 69 71, Charley Hoffman 70 68 76, Charles Howell III 73 70 71, Matt Jones (Aus) 73 71 70, Kyoung-Hoon Lee (Kor) 72 71 71, Phil Mickelson 71 72 71, Joaquin Niemann (Chi) 73 71 70, Scott Piercy 73 70 71, Brian Stuard 74 68 72, Brendon Todd 74 69 71, Harold Varner III 70 73 71, Kramer Hickok 74 68 72

215 Keegan Bradley 70 72 73, Dylan Frittelli (Rsa) 71 68 76, Billy Horschel 71 73 71, Sung Jae Im (Kor) 72 66 77, Zach Johnson 75 68 72, Ryan Moore 75 69 71, Brendan Steele 72 72 71

216 Lucas Glover 75 69 72, Dustin Johnson 73 70 73, Russell Knox (Sco) 71 73 72, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 73 69 74, Cameron Percy (Aus) 73 70 73, Adam Scott (Aus) 72 71 73, Nick Taylor (Can) 70 74 72, Michael Thompson 71 73 72, Jhonattan Vegas (Ven) 73 71 72, Aaron Wise 73 71 72

217 James Hahn 76 67 74, Patrick Rodgers 74 70 73

218 Nate Lashley 74 69 75, Rory Sabbatini (Svk) 69 75 74

220 Scott Harrington 72 71 77, Martin Laird (Sco) 73 71 76, Collin Morikawa 71 73 76