Stenson leads Bay Hill; Tiger five back

ORLANDO, Fla. — Henrik Stenson gets his third chance in four years to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and the final hour Saturday reminded him it won’t be easy.

Part of that feeling came from three putts he narrowly missed — two for birdie, one for eagle — that could have given him separation going into the final round at Bay Hill. Stenson settled for a 1-under-par 71 that gave him a 12-under 204 and a one-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau, who missed a few chances in a round of 72.

And part of that feeling was seeing some of the names in the mix.

Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy made an eagle and birdied two of his last three holes, dropping a wedge into 3 feet on the 18th for a 67 to finish two shots behind.

Former U.S. Open champion Justin Rose outplayed Tiger Woods before another raucous gallery, posting a 67 that left him three behind.

Woods isn’t entirely out of it, either.

He hit another shot that had the fans buzzing, switching from a wedge to hit back to the fairway to a 5-iron he took over the lip, over the trees and over the water to set up a birdie on the par-5 16th. Woods had a 69 and was five shots behind.

Of his record eight victories at Bay Hill, Woods has led six times and was tied for the lead another time. His lone comeback also was from five shots behind in 2009, when he rallied to beat Sean O’Hair with a 67 in the final round.

Woods has played in the final group at all eight of his Bay Hill victories. This time, he has nine players in front of him, and they have some pedigree.

It starts with Stenson, who has reason to believe he is overdue at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He had a one-shot lead with four holes to play in 2015 when he had consecutive three-putts — one for bogey, another for par — and Matt Every beat him with an 18-foot birdie on the last hole.

■ LPGA: At Phoenix, Bishop Gorman product Inbee Park played the first five holes in 6 under par and finished at 9-under 63 for a 14-under 202 total, taking a one-stroke lead over Mariajo Uribe into the final round of the Founders Cup.

Park, an 18-time tour winner with seven major titles, holed out from 90 yards for eagle on the par-4 third to highlight the early run at Desert Ridge.

Ariya Jutanugarn (68) was two strokes back. Laura Davies (63), a 54-year-old Hall of Famer, moved into a tie for fourth at 11 under.