Stenson seizes command as Rory fades

SWEDEN’S third-ranked Henrik Stenson (right) went four-under on the last four holes to grab a two-stroke lead after yesterday’s third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational while Rory McIlroy’s charge fizzled.

Stenson sank a 13-foot birdie putt at 15, eagled the par-5 16th with a 20-foot putt and dropped his approach inches from the cup at 18 for a tap-in birdie to finish a six-under par 66 and stand on 16-under 200 at the US PGA Tour event.

“Pretty nice way to finish,” Stenson said. “What I’ve done has put me in a nice position but it has got to be done all over again tomorrow. I’ve got to go out there and keep the same mindset.”

It was the second day in a row Stenson went four-under over the final four holes. He matched the low 54-hole total at Bay Hill first recorded by Andy Bean in 1981.

“I just hit some great shots two days in a row,” Stenson said. “You’re going to pick up some shots if you go 4-under two days in a row on the last four.”

American Morgan Hoffmann, who led after the first and second rounds in quest of his first tour title, fired a 71 to stand second on 202, one stroke ahead of Australian Matt Jones and Americans Jason Kokrak, Ben Martin and defending champion Matt Every.

World No. 1 McIlroy, who could win his third major title in a row and complete a career grand slam with a victory in next month’s Masters, pulled within one shot of the lead with backto-back birdies only to bogey the next three holes.

McIlroy had a tap-in birdie at the par-5 sixth and chipped in a 22-footer from just off the green for birdie at the ninth. After birdies at 12 and 13, he was just one adrift.

But McIlroy’s charge collapsed. He missed a 10-foot par putt at the par-3 14th and a three-foot par putt at 15, then went into a fairway bunker and missed a seven-foot par putt at 16 for his third bogey in a row. He fired a 71 to stand seven behind Stenson.

Jones, who defends his lone US PGA title in two weeks at the Houston Open, closed with four birdies in a row, including a 75-footer at the par-3 17th.