O'Hair hit eight birdies in his round of 66

Sean O'Hair fired a third round 66 to lead The Players Championship on nine under, one stroke ahead of second round leader Phil Mickelson.

Jeff Quinney had the round of the day with a 64 to lie two off the lead alongside Peter Lonard, who hit an albatross on the par-five 2nd.

England's Luke Donald moved into contention with a brilliant 65 that left him four shots off O'Hair's lead.

Any lingering hopes Tiger Woods had disappeared as he slipped to a 73.

O'Hair set the pace with four birdies on the outward nine, and four more on the way back were tempered by two bogies.

"That's probably one of the best rounds of my career - probably top two," said O'Hair, who said he would not worry about the expectation for the final round.

It was easy golf today and I putted very well Luke Donald

"Tomorrow all it is is a round of golf and I've got to look at it that way.

"I need to go out there and play like I'm in my own world like the last two days."

Mickelson was not able to find quite such good form but birdies on 16 and 18 kept him in contention.

Donald matched O'Hair's eight birdies with just one bogey, while Quinney went one better by hitting eight birdies without a single blemish.

Donald sank a 25-footer on the 1st for his opening birdie, but the rest all came from inside 15 feet thanks to some magic iron shots.

"My first two rounds I felt just a little bit off," said Donald.

"Today was a lot better. I hit a lot more fairways, a lot more greens.

"It was easy golf today and I putted very well, didn't leave too much out there.

"I wasn't in great shape (starting the day) but I knew if I had a good round I could get myself back into position.

"The key to my round was the birdie at the first. Anytime you start like that it gives you a boost."