by JJ Spaun led the American indictment at the Player Championship at TPC Sawgrass after a 70s deputy prank in front of the Landsbud Bud Cauley.
World No. 57 Spaun, joint leader, after shooting a six-below 66 player in the opening round on Thursday, 68 followed on Saturday with five birdies and three Bogeys to get a slim advantage into the last day.
The 34-year-old Californian saved par in the last hole to stay in front, and sank a 24-foot putt after an independent second shot in trouble reaching 12.
Cauy’s six-Unter-PAR 66, which included an eagle on the ninth Par-Five, seven birdies and three bogeys, killed him by 14 places by 11 under, two shots in front of the Americans Lucas Glover and Alex Smalley.
Glover, who ended one for the day, is bound in third place with Smalley, while another American, Akshay Bhatia, appeared on course to implement himself at nine before excluding the last places.
Rory McIlroy is in fifth place with Bhatia in fifth place after ending the third round at 73.
The number two in the world, which had shot a 67 and 68 in the first two rounds, was one for the day after eleven holes, but three of the last seven holes before he had the last bird observation.
“I have the feeling that I played better than I rated,” said Mcilroy. “All bogeys I made were very soft. I just have to better chip and putt tomorrow.
“Never out. The wind should still blow tomorrow, so it was nice to make a birdie at 18 to bring JJ closer.
“I made only a few too many mistakes in the greens and on the greens. If I can tidy up this tomorrow, I have the feeling that I have a really good chance. “
The defending champion Scottie Scheffler is seven shots of the leadership, which after the carding of 72 on the 16th place in five under Par, together with five other players, including Scotland’s Robert Macintyre, who also ended Level-Par for the round.
The last round was laid for an earlier start with three groups of three from the first and 10th t -shirt, since the bad weather will predict in the later day to bring storms and heavy winds.
