Top-ranked Scot Robert MacIntyre stormed home brilliantly on the back of nine birdies to seize the clubhouse lead on day three of the Players Championship.
MacIntyre put himself in contention for hopeful victory at Tour HQ in a round of a 65 for a three-day seven-under tally and just as the leading groups re teeing-up in glorious conditons on the TPC Sawgrass course.
The Oban lefty began golf’s ‘moving day’ at level par post a pair of opening 72s that boasted just four birdies but also just as many bogeys.
MacIntyre quickly made a mockery of those stats birdieing three of his opening six holes, and while dropping a shot at seven, the present World No. 8 soon had his foot firmly back on the golfing accelerator with birdies at nine, 11 and 12. He made a mess of 13 taking bogey before attracting everyone’s attention over his closing four holes.
Robert MacIntyre on route to a third round sizzling 65 and a share of 10th heading to the final round of The Players Championship. Image Getty
He holed a sensational 36-footer at the par-3 15th for birdie, two-putted the par-5 16th for birdie and then at the infamous ‘island green’ par-3, 17th MacIntyre landed his 130-yard tee shot behind the green for his ball to roll back and stop just four-feet from the hole for a third straight birdie.
MacIntyre was now sharing fifth place at eight-under just as the leading groups were being introduced on the opening tee.
He found the final fairway with a 284-yard gem before also finding the green in two, leaving himself a 45-footer but with thoughts now on simply saving par that MacIntyre did in holing his fourth shot from some 10-feet for a round of a seven-under 67 and a similar three-round tally.
“I’ve been playing well all week, and driving it beautifully, but I wasn’t taking advantage of the scoring holes when I had a wedge in my hand,” said MacIntyre.
“But I took advantage today.”
A check of MacIntyre’s third round stats and he hit 11 of 14 fairyways and 12 of 18 greens.
At day’s end the champion Scot found himself tied 10th and six shots adrift of double winning Ryder Cup colleague Ludig Aberg who posted a third round 71 to enjoy a three-shot lead at 13-under heading the St. Patrick’s Day closing round.
