• Players Championship

Westwood not expecting to triumph at Sawgrass

Lee Westwood has some nervy moments ahead at Sawgrass © Getty Images

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Lee Westwood has confessed he does not expect to win the Players Championship, despite the fact he takes a one-stroke lead into the final round.

Westwood leads from Robert Allenby, while Ben Crane, Lucas Glover and Francesco Molinari are also well in the hunt. Phil Mickelson, chasing the world No. 1 spot, can also not be written out after producing a six-under round on the third day.

Worksop-born Westwood has not won a PGA Tour title for 12 years, since his only triumph at the Freeport-McDermott Classic in April 1998. He has undoubtedly had his chances since that victory, and Sunday at Sawgrass represents another.

"First and foremost I thought it was quite tricky out there," commented Westwood after his two-under round of 70 on Saturday.

"The greens had firmed up and were glassy, which was quite a scary thing first thing, but overall I was pleased with the day. I felt pretty confident all day, but I was surprised how much harder the course was.

"Obviously I'd love to win a major, but all you do is try your hardest and I have a lot of experience from what happened at the (2008) US Open, The Open last year and then The Masters.

"Once again I'm in with a chance. You don't expect to win - you hope to win - but I expect to play well."

Meanwhile Mickelson, who sits five shots off the pace, is hoping he has one more big effort in him when he tees off on the final round.

"I felt like things started to click to a little bit and I think I've got one more low round in me. I just hope that it will be enough, that I'll be within striking distance."

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