Westwood leads at Sawgrass, gets another shot at DeChambeau

Lee Westwood gets anor shot at winning Players Championship, and anor crack at Bryson DeChambeau.

Westwood me a 25-foot birdie putt on island-green 17th hole, and he closed out a 4-under 68 with a 5-footer for par to extend his bogey-free streak at TPC Sawgrass to 44 holes.

It also gave him a two-shot le over DeChambeau and set up a rematch from last week in Arnold Palmer Invitational.

y were in final group at Bay Hill, where Westwood took a one-shot le into final round only for DeChambeau to make a 5-foot par on final hole to beat him by one on a big-hitter's ballpark.

“Round two,” Westwood said with a smile.

Stium Course at Sawgrass is more about position that power, though DeChambeau appears capable of winning on just about any course at moment. He ran off three straight birdies to start back nine and was most excited about his 15-foot par putt on 18th for a 67.

Westwood was at 13-under 203.

47-year-old from England h 54-hole le at Sawgrass in 2010 only to hit into water on par-3 17th to end his chances. He tied for fourth.

All se years later, he gets anor chance and looks to be up to task.

So does DeChambeau, going for his third victory this season.

He can't blast away at Sawgrass because of bending tree-lined fairways and water hazards. But his power still comes in handy. With his tee shot buried in deep rough right of 18th fairway, some 210 yards away, he ripped an 8-iron to just short of green and set up his chance at par. DeChambeau twice pumped his powerful arms when it dropped.

“You've got to make those to win tournaments,” he said. “I didn't want to leave a sour taste in my mouth.”

Westwood has been around long enough to know that even with recent history of Bay Hill, DeChambeau is not only one that figures to stand in his way, especially on a troublesome course like Sawgrass.

Saturday was evident of that.

Justin Thomas started third round seven shots behind, opened with four straight birdies and n hit a 5-iron that stopped inches away on par-5 16th that left him a tap-in eagle. He shot 64 and was three shots behind, along with Doug Ghim, who is making his debut in Players.

Ghim, one of seven players who h at least a share of le at one point Saturday, was motoring along until one costly swing on easiest hole, par-5 16th. He came up well short in a bunker under a tree, tried to blast low under limbs and caught rough and wound up with his lone bogey.

Paul Casey h six birdies and an eagle to offset his mistakes in a 67, leaving him four shots behind with Jon Rahm (67). Also four shots behind was Brian Harman, who began his day by holing a wedge for eagle and shot 69.

Sergio Garcia was five shots behind and still can't handle short putts, including a 4-footer for birdie that missed bly on low side at 17th. He h to settle for a 72.

Westwood said this would be biggest win of his career, and while re were times he chose not to play as a European Tour member, re is no denying strength of field — 48 of top 50 players — and nature of a Sawgrass course where fortunes can change with a single swing.

For DeChambeau, it's a chance to stamp himself as favorite as Masters nears, if he's not alrey. He won with power and putting at Bay Hill. He's having to rely on a little more this week, and says missing in right spots has helped him avoid dropping more shots.

Image credits: AP