Tiger Woods held on to a one-shot lead after the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational despite a late-round stumble.
Four shots clear with five holes of his third round at Bay Hill to go, Woods looked in total control, but then out of nowhere followed a bogey with an out of bounds double bogey to see his cushion evaporate.
He eventually posted a one-under-par 71 to finish on 11 under par, one shot clear of Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, who also shot 71, and three shots ahead of Ernie Els and Ian Poulter, both of whom made significant moves on Saturday thanks to rounds of 67 and 68.
Woods' double bogey, or at least the errant drive that led to it, seemed to come as a result of noise from the crowd during his swing, and it clearly unsettled him.
He was in another bunker off the tee at the long 16th, but found the green from there.
McDowell, meanwhile, followed up 12 successive pars with a birdie at the 17th to draw level, but Tiger reponded to his double bogey with a crucial birdie of his own at the 16th to retake the sole lead, which is how things finished up.
"If you're in the lead, you've done some good things," Woods said. "That's how I've always looked at it. And it's a nice position to be in."
"I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I'm looking forward to getting out there and playing and competing again. As far as what it would mean? It would mean No. 72 (his 72nd PGA Tour victory). Not a bad number, either."
McDowell has great memories of going toe-to-toe with Tiger and coming out on top - two years ago at the Chevron World Challenge he came from four behind to prevent Woods from taking what would have been a very valuable victory. Now, he finds himself in a position to potentially do the same.
"It was a tough grind, US Open-esque. The pins have been tucked away and I felt I played with the handbrake on a bit," said McDowell.
"I'm looking forward to the opportunity of playing with a man who knows how to get it done round here. I'll probably have to be a bit more positive with my iron play."
After Ernie Els' major disappointment at the Transitions Championship last week, where he led by one with two to play only to bogey them both and finish in third, the South African again finds himself in with a chance of securing that valuable spot in the Masters field.
"I've had a pretty smooth career, but the last 18 months I've had to dig deep and I've been through the mill," he said. "I've got some hope again."
Poulter is still recovering from a bout of pneumonia, but he looked good on Saturday, mixing an eagle and four birdies with two bogeys for his 68.
"I'm playing very nicely - I think today was a great round of golf," said the Englishman.
"The only blemish I had was a three-putt from 30 feet, but I holed a nice 35-foot putt for eagle.
"This is a tricky golf course. I think you have to play it sensibly and try and take your chances when you get them.
"I will steer my golf ball around, have some fun and see what happens.
"I don't have Augusta on my mind at all and I won't have until next Monday."
golf365.com