Rory McIlroy extended his lead to four shots in the early stages of his final round at the World Golf Championships - Cadillac Championship as he seeks a third WGC title at Trump National Doral.
The Northern Irishman led by three overnight and had spoken on Sunday morning of playing a "controlled" final round to get over the finish line in Florida.
He certainly began that way, as he opened with four pars to stay at 12 under, with Danny Willett, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott and Bubba Watson all four shots behind.
Dustin Johnson was then seven under, with Paul Casey and Charley Hoffman seven shots off the lead.
A win would make McIlroy just the third player after Tiger Woods and Geoff Ogilvy to win three WGC titles and also complete a European clean sweep in the four events.
The 26 year old already holds the WGC - Cadillac Match Play and would add to Shane Lowry's triumph in the WGC - Bridgestone Invitational and Russell Knox's win at the WGC - HSBC Champions.
"Going into the final round with a lead you have to choose your points when you're going to be aggressive and your holes," McIlroy said ahead of the final round. "I'm going to have to play aggressive on some holes but still have a controlled game-plan and be smart.
"I feel like every aspect of my game has been really good this week and I feel like it has been improving each and every week.
It's the culmination of a lot of hard work and practice and hopefully it can hold up for one more day - Rory McIlroy
McIlroy quickly saw his lead cut to two shots by Scott as the Australian birdied the first and he failed to do so for the first time this week after finding sand off the tee.
Willett, Mickelson and Watson all also took advantage of the par five as they looked to overturn a five-shot gap, the same margin Johnson overcame to beat J B Holmes at this event last season.
Scott then found the water with his approach to the third to record a double-bogey, and when Johnson hit the same pond off the tee to also drop two shots, McIlroy's lead was four.
Justin Rose set the early clubhouse target at one under thanks to an impressive five under par 67 with a single bogey on the last.
