Local Lake Nona resident Graeme McDowell posted his lowest round of the week, a superb five-under par 67, to jump close to 40 places on day three of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

G Mac jumps nearly 40 places on ‘moving day’ at 2014 Arnold Palmer Invitational. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

Unlike his second round, the two-time Bay Hill runner-up didn’t drop a shot in posting five birdies including picking off birdies on four of his closing seven holes in very hot conditions in the $US 6.2m event.

It was a superb turnaround from Friday’s indifferent driving display in a score of 77 and the second highest of the day.

McDowell didn’t miss a fairway on day three and had just 25 putts, and seven fewer than a day earlier.

“Yesterday was about as poorly as I’ve driven it in 10 years,” said McDowell.

“Today, I don’t think I missed a fairway. The rest of my game has been solid, so I knew if I could get it in play here, I could shoot a good number.”

McDowell got his round going with a 13-foot birdie at the par-4 eighth, ending a 31-hole drought.

“The floodgates kind of opened up for me after that,” he said with a smile. “It’s nice to go out there and make a bit of a move. It gives me something to go out and play for tomorrow.”