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Henrik Stenson leads as Rory McIlroy finishes poorly at Bay Hill

Henrik Stenson: Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill
Image: Henrik Stenson: Picked up four shots over the final four holes

Henrik Stenson staged another superb finish to open up a two-shot lead after the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

Third round leaders

Par 72:
-16 H Stenson (Swe) 66
-14 M Hoffman (USA) 71
-13 J Kokrak (USA) 65
-13 M Jones (Aus) 67
-13 B Martin (USA) 68
-13 M Every (USA) 69
-11 S O'Hair (USA) 68

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-9 R McIlroy (NIrl) 71

The in-form Swede picked up four shots over the final four holes for the second day running to cap a flawless six-under 66, lifting him two clear of overnight leader Morgan Hoffmann while Rory McIlroy's challenge faltered alarmingly down the stretch.

The world No 1 had got to within a shot of the lead after back-to-back birdies at 12 and 13 got him to four under for the round, but he bogeyed the next three holes to finish the day seven adrift of his Ryder Cup team-mate.

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Highlights from the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational from Bay Hill.

In contrast, Stenson was near perfect on the inward run as he followed his third birdie of the round at the 15th with a 20-foot putt for eagle at the next to claim the outright lead.

Stenson then negotiated the 17th without alarm before almost holing his approach to the last, although the resulting tap-in birdie from inside two feet capped his second consecutive 66.

"It was nice," the Swede told Sky Sports 4. "I managed to sneak a couple of birdies on the front nine and then had a couple of unlucky breaks in the middle, but stayed patient again and got a really nice finish again. Four under for the last four, same as yesterday - I don't mind keep doing that round here.

I'm trying to stay focused on my game plan, trying to make good swings and so far so good
Henrik Stenson

"It would be a great week (to win) and something very special give that I live in Orlando and have some extra support. They asked me on the first tee if I wanted to be announced as from Gothenburg or Orlando and I went for Orlando.

More from Arnold Palmer Invitational 2015

"I'm trying to stay focused on my game plan, trying to make good swings and so far so good."

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Henrik Stenson, who now resides in Orlando, the location of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, is two shots clear at the top of the leaderboard at sixteen-und

The world No 3 tops the leaderboard on 16 under from Hoffmann, who recovered from bogeys at eight and nine with birdies at three of the next four holes before parring in to complete a creditable 71.

Jason Kokrak vaulted into contention as he rattled in five birdies in eight holes from the fourth and picked up further shots at 15 and 16 as he returned a bogey-free 65 to match the earlier days-best of Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

Flying finish

Kokrak earned the early clubhouse lead on 13 under and he was soon joined by Australian Matt Jones, who hit back from two bogeys over the first three holes with seven birdies - including each of the last four holes in an excellent 67.

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Jason Kokrak is performing well in the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the American is hoping to break his duck and win his first PGA Tour title.

Ben Martin also earned a share of third after a five-birdie 68, while Matt Every continued to put up a stout defence of his title as he clawed his way to 13 under with a steady 69.

Aphibarnrat had earlier stormed to the turn in just 30 blows, but the birdies dried up for the Thai ace on the back nine although he did get one to drop at the long 16th before he completed a 65 to move to 10 under - a rise of 32 places up the leaderboard.

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Sam Saunders says he’s honoured to be playing in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the tournament named after his grandfather, but admits that he’s keen to m

"I'm striking the ball really well," he said. "I made eight birdies in the first round, but just had a two-under finish. But today I had a low score because I didn't drop any shots.

"I've been playing last year a lot in the States. I made cuts, but couldn't finish high. Tomorrow I don't want to force myself, I'll just play my game."

McIlroy looked at odds with his swing early on and did well to scramble five opening pars before making his first birdie of the day at the sixth, and he added another with a sublime chip-in from a tricky lie in the rough beyond the ninth green.

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Daniel Berger says he had to retain his composure after hitting an albatross at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and thinks he could be in with a shot of wi

But after picking up two more at 12 and 13, McIlroy paid the price for coming up short of the 14th green and he three-putted the next before scrapping his way to an ugly six at the 16th.

He parred in to stay at nine under alongside Keegan Bradley and Louis Oosthuizen, while Ian Poulter was one further back after he offset four birdies with three bogeys in an erratic 71.

Meanwhile, Daniel Berger provided the highlight of the day as he holed a 240-yard four-iron at the sixth hole to card the first albatross in the tournament's history.

Watch Sunday's featured pairing of Rickie Fowler and Hideki Matsuyama live on the red button on Sky Sports 4 and also on the Sky Sports iPad app. Coverage starts at 1.45pm.

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