Luke Donald faced an increasingly difficult challenge in his efforts to become the World Number One in The Players Championship at Sawgrass.
The Englishman requires a top four finish in Florida to overtake Rory McIlroy, who did not make the cut on Friday.
However, having begun on three under par, his only birdie had been cancelled out by a bogey on the par four fourth.
That meant Donald remained three under having completed the front nine.
David Toms was delivering the day’s outstanding round; the American, having started level, was seven under through 17 despite bogeying two of the first four holes.
Meanwhile, Peter Hanson, so impressive in the Masters Tournament, was enjoying a fine finish having reached four under par after 11.
The Swede picked up shots on second, fourth, tenth and 11th, with his only bogey coming on the par four seventh.
Yet he was still eight adrift of leader Kevin Na, who had yet to begin his final round.
