McDowell stumbles and still has lead at players

16 May 2011 - 03:02
By DOUG FERGUSON , Sapa-AP

Graeme McDowell still had the lead at The Players Championship after the rain-delayed third round finished on Sunday but a double bogey on the 18th put a dampener on his round.



McDowell made a late surge, building a three-shot lead with a tap-in birdie on the island-green 17th. But he was shocked to see his approach on the 18th bounce onto the green, take a hard turn to the left and roll all way into the water. He finished with a 68.

That gave him a one-shot lead over K.J. Choi and David Toms going into the final round.

It set up what could be a dynamic finish, with so many top players on a course where anything can happen at any minute. That much was evident at the end of the third round.

Nick Watney lost the lead by playing a three-hole stretch in 4 over.