THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD US unless stated -9 L Donald (Eng), B Mayfair -8 J Gove -7 G Ogilvy (Aus), D Chopra (Swe) -6 M Gronberg (Swe, D Toms Selected others: -4 P Harrington (Ire) -2 G Owen (Eng) Level L Westwood (Eng) +1 I Poulter (Eng) +8 B Davis (Eng)

Donald fired a 68 and Mayfair carded 72 for nine under as long-time leader David Toms slipped back with a 76.

American Jeff Gove was third on eight under with Toms at six under.

Ireland's defending champion Padraig Harrington stuttered to a 74 for four under, while Englishman Lee Westwood plummetted back to level par with a 77.

Sweden's Daniel Chopra and Australian WGC-Match Play champion Geoff Ogilvy were tied on seven under.

I haven't been in this position too many times over here Luke Donald

High Wycombe's Donald, 28, kicked off with five straight pars but made the first of his five birdies at the sixth despite blustery conditions.

His first blemish came at the par-four 16th but he immediately made amends with a four on the long 17th.

"The way the greens are you have to be very accurate with your irons, whether there is wind or not," said Donald, who is chasing his second PGA Tour win.

"That's the most important thing out here and l've done that pretty well for the last couple of days.

"I've got off to a steady start this year but now I've got to finish the job off. I haven't been in this position too many times over here."

Mayfair had a mixed round of two birdies and four bogeys but an eagle at the 17th lifted him alongside Donald overall.

World number eight Toms, the highest ranked player in the field, led by one overnight but struggled with three early bogeys before sharing the lead again with Mayfair at the turn.

Toms regained a one-shot cushion with a 15ft birdie putt on 10 but he leaked four bogeys in his last six holes.

England's Greg Owen finished on two under after a 72 as countryman Ian Poulter clawed his way to one over with a two-under-par round of 70.