Collin Morikawa shot a five-under-par 67 to maneuver right into a one-shot lead after the third spherical on the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The world quantity 5 drained six birdies, together with a putt from nearly 12 toes on the final gap, to enhance to 10 below total.
That nudged Morikawa one shot away from fellow American Russell Henley, who additionally fired a 67 at Bay Hill in Orlando on Saturday.
Canada’s Corey Conners trails Morikawa by two strokes heading into Sunday’s closing spherical, with Australia’s Jason Day a shot additional again in fourth.
Eire’s Shane Lowry started the day with a two-shot lead over Wyndham Clark however slipped down the leaderboard, with a four-over 76 leaving him six adrift on 4 below.
Clark dropped again too, with the American additionally settling for 76 and falling to a tie for thirteenth.
Northern Eire’s Rory McIlroy was one other who misplaced floor, along with his one-over 73 leaving the world quantity two in a tie for tenth with England’s Aaron Rai and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre.
Henley made an announcement by beginning the again 9 with 4 consecutive birdies, whereas Conners slipped again with a dropped shot on the 18th gap.
Michael Kim (67) and Tony Finau (68) moved into considerably distant rivalry at 5 below, whereas Andrew Novak loved the perfect spherical of the day as a bogey-free 65 moved him to 4 below.
Morikawa has not received on the PGA Tour since October 2023, and the 28-year-old has skilled blended fortunes on this course prior to now, recalling earlier missed cuts following his spherical on Saturday.
“I’ve come to this occasion not enjoying nice beforehand,” stated the two-time main winner, “and it is a course that in case you’re not enjoying nice it may present.
“It is simply a kind of that you may’t faux it. However this was one in all my first skilled begins as an newbie, I performed in 2017, and I like the golf course.
“On a course like this you simply need to have full management of your golf ball, so that is what it may take tomorrow.”
He added: “I might say the blokes which can be successful on a continuing foundation, they’re enjoying free, and that is how I will exit tomorrow.”
