Players: Day leads by four going into Sunday

World No. 1 Jason Day lost ground to par on an exceedingly difficult TPC Sawgrass during the third round of the Players Championship on Saturday, but still will take a four-stroke lead into the final round.

Day, having completed 36 holes in a record 15-under par, shot a one-over par 73 in the third round and is at 14-under for the tournament. Hideki Matsuyama, Ken Duke and Alex Cejka are tied for second at 10-under par.

Duke, 47 and looking for just his second PGA Tour victory, shot the best score of the day, a seven-under 65. He shot a 30 on the front nine, including five consecutive birdies from holes three through seven.

"I hit a lot of good shots close," said Duke. "I made all of my short ones, which you have to on these greens. I made a couple great up-and-downs, and just kept the round going."

Matsuyama shot a five-under 67 that included seven birdies. He ascended 34 places up the leader board.

Kevin Chappell and Retief Goosen tread closely at eight-under through three rounds. They are tied for sixth and trail Day by six strokes.

Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, struggled, shooting a three-over 75. He is tied for 16th, nine strokes off the lead.

Click here for the full leader board from TPC Sawgrass.