PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida (Reuters) - Britain's Graeme McDowell and Nick Watney of the United States share the lead on 11-under at the Players Championship after a rain-delayed Saturday but the battle for the 'fifth major' remains wide open.
The pair completed just five holes of their third round after a four and a half hour delay at TPC Sawgrass due to a heavy thunder storm.
U.S. Open champion McDowell, of Northern Ireland, and Watney, winner of March's World Golf Championship tournament at Doral, will come back at 7.45 am local (1145 GMT) on Sunday to complete the 13 remaining holes before taking a break and coming back in the afternoon for their fourth round.
Experienced American pair Steve Stricker and David Toms are both a shot behind, followed by compatriot Lucas Glover and South Korean K.J Choi a further shot back on nine-under.
The heavy rain softened the course and with the wind dropping it was a much tamer challenge for the leaders when they finally emerged from the clubhouse after a frustrating day of waiting.
"The golf course had changed significantly when we did get back out there. There greens were a lot more receptive, the fairways too and so you can play the course much more aggressively," said McDowell.
"I think that is going to make for low scoring on Sunday," McDowell birdied three of his five holes while Watney birdied the opening two and there were others who took advantage of the easier conditions to rise up the leaderboard.
Germany's Martin Kaymer, the world number two, birdied five of his opening seven holes but then three bogeys saw him slip back and he ended the day three strokes off the lead alongside Britain's Luke Donald.
McDowell said the changed conditions had opened up the battle for Sunday's title much more.
"I'm under no illusions, if the course had have stayed the same and continued to firm up then 10 or 11 under might have won this tournament, but I think it is going to take 15 or maybe 16 under now things have softened up," he said.
While Watney leads the American challenge to McDowell, 44-year-old Toms, without a PGA Tour win in five years, is still very much in the frame.
"It's going to be a very long day tomorrow, especially for an old guy," Toms said.
"I've got to go 31 holes of golf, but hopefully I will play some good golf and that will give me the boost you need for a long day.
"I think you'll probably see some good scoring so I'm going to have to go out there and start making some and have a good day myself."
The pair completed just five holes of their third round after a four and a half hour delay at TPC Sawgrass due to a heavy thunder storm.
U.S. Open champion McDowell, of Northern Ireland, and Watney, winner of March's World Golf Championship tournament at Doral, will come back at 7.45 am local (1145 GMT) on Sunday to complete the 13 remaining holes before taking a break and coming back in the afternoon for their fourth round.
Experienced American pair Steve Stricker and David Toms are both a shot behind, followed by compatriot Lucas Glover and South Korean K.J Choi a further shot back on nine-under.
The heavy rain softened the course and with the wind dropping it was a much tamer challenge for the leaders when they finally emerged from the clubhouse after a frustrating day of waiting.
"The golf course had changed significantly when we did get back out there. There greens were a lot more receptive, the fairways too and so you can play the course much more aggressively," said McDowell.
"I think that is going to make for low scoring on Sunday," McDowell birdied three of his five holes while Watney birdied the opening two and there were others who took advantage of the easier conditions to rise up the leaderboard.
Germany's Martin Kaymer, the world number two, birdied five of his opening seven holes but then three bogeys saw him slip back and he ended the day three strokes off the lead alongside Britain's Luke Donald.
McDowell said the changed conditions had opened up the battle for Sunday's title much more.
"I'm under no illusions, if the course had have stayed the same and continued to firm up then 10 or 11 under might have won this tournament, but I think it is going to take 15 or maybe 16 under now things have softened up," he said.
While Watney leads the American challenge to McDowell, 44-year-old Toms, without a PGA Tour win in five years, is still very much in the frame.
"It's going to be a very long day tomorrow, especially for an old guy," Toms said.
"I've got to go 31 holes of golf, but hopefully I will play some good golf and that will give me the boost you need for a long day.
"I think you'll probably see some good scoring so I'm going to have to go out there and start making some and have a good day myself."
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