Players Championship: Lee Westwood retains lead as Phil Mickelson moves into contention

AFTER 108 starts in America since his one and only win 12 years ago Lee Westwood could today make it three European victories in a row at golf's richest event.

The world No.4, trying to follow Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson, goes into the final round of the 6.2million Players Championship in Florida one ahead of Australian Robert Allenby. That was the advantage he held at halfway, but it was far from smooth sailing for the Worksop 37-year-old before he handed in a two under par 70.

First American Heath Slocum moved into a two-shot lead before bogeying the 13th and 15th and horribly dumping his tee shot into the water at the island-green short 17th. Just before that Allenby had made it a three-way tie thanks to a 14-foot eagle putt at the long 16th and a 12-footer on the dangerous next.

But Westwood – third, third and second in the last three major championships – kept his cool and with a birdie at the 523-yard 16th and two closing pars he posted a 14 under aggregate.

Allenby was round in 67 to take over as closest challenger, while one further back are Italian Francesco Molinari and two more Americans in Ben Crane and US Open champion Lucas Glover. But there is still a chance that Phil Mickelson will deny Westwood just as he did at the Masters a month ago – and that the left-hander will take the world No.1 spot after 244 weeks at second.

Mickelson, pictured, moved into joint 11th with a 66 and is five behind – just as Stenson was before charging through to win by four 12 months ago. To go top of the rankings for the first time in his life Mickelson has to win and Tiger Woods has to be outside the top five.

That latter half of the equation seems a given. A bogey-bogey finish for 71 left Woods down in 45th spot – and a young boy took the chance on receiving Mickelson's autograph to point out the situation.

"Tiger, say so long to No.1 – kiss it goodbye," he said as Woods walked by to hand in his scorecard.

For Mickelson, a perennial world No.2, taking over at the top was the last thing on his mind. "I'm trying to get ready for tomorrow's round and, again, get in striking distance," the four-times major winner said after recording seven birdies and a lone bogey in blustery conditions.

"I felt like things started to click a little bit today and I think I've got one more low round in me. I just hope it will be enough, that I'll be within striking distance."

Woods, who began the third round level with Mickelson, again struggled off the tee. Playing only his third event since his private life unravelled at the end of last year amid allegations of marital infidelities, Woods improved to six under overall before a faltering finish.

"I had it going for a little bit," the 14-times major champion said after recording birdies at the 11th and 15th. "If I could have birdied 16 and 17 I'd have been right back in the tournament. I need so much help today and tomorrow but it doesn't look like that's probably going to be the case. There are too many guys out there."

A spectator who resisted arrest during the Players Championship was dealt with by a Taser gun.

According to local police the man was heckling a player – not thought to be Tiger Woods – and Sergeant Chuck Milligan said: "We asked him several times to cease his activities, but this met with a negative result.

"After asking him several times to cease or leave the course, he was told he was being placed under arrest. Again he resisted when officers put their hands on him.

"So he was given what we call a 'drive stun' where the cartridge is removed from the device. It's similar to the old stun gun and is a pain compliance technique."

England's Melissa Reid led on 4-under after the second round of the Turkish Airlines Ladies' Open in Antalya yesterday. Carly Booth fared best among the Scots contingent, but a 78 left her well off the pace at five over. Lynn Kenny was two shots further back on seven over and Vikki Laing on eight over. Fellow Scots Krystle Caithness (nine over) Kylie Walker and Clare Queen (both 12 over) and Pamela Feggans (14 over) all missed the cut.

Fraserburgh's Kris Nicol sits four shots off the pace after the second round of the AIB Irish Open Amateur championship at Royal Dublin.

The North East Open champion, runner-up in last weekend's Lytham Trophy, harnessed the tough conditions and carded a best-of-the-day one-over 72 for an eight-over 150.