Singh Forges Three Clear at Bay Hill

Vijay Singh moved three shots clear of a congested leaderboard at the Arnold Palmer Invitational midway through Sunday's final round.

Three off the pace at the start of a sun-drenched day, the Fijian recovered from an early bogey with four birdies in five holes to reach the turn in four-under 31.

That left him at nine under overall, comfortably ahead of Americans Rocco Mediate, John Rollins and Vaughn Taylor, plus Spaniard Sergio Garcia.

Second-round leader Mediate, who chipped in for eagle at the par-five sixth, was three under for the round after 13 holes, Rollins two under after 11, and Garcia two under after 10.

Overnight leader Taylor, bidding for his third PGA Tour title, dropped two shots in the first four holes before reaching the turn in two-over 37.

Former British Open champions Tom Lehman and Ben Curtis were tied for sixth place at four under after nine holes, one ahead of world number one Tiger Woods.

Woods, hunting his fifth title at the Bay Hill Club, slipped back after a red-hot start at one of his favourite venues.

He rolled in a 20-footer to birdie the first and a 16-footer at the second before bogeying the par-four third after missing the fairway off the tee.

After parring the next four holes, the American judged the pace perfectly to coax in a 26-foot birdie putt at the eighth. As the ball curled into the cup, Woods gave a celebratory fist pump.

Briefly just two strokes off the lead, Woods then double-bogeyed the par-four 11th after three-putting from 18 feet.

With the fairways and greens running fast and firm in bright sunshine, Bay Hill was a tough proposition and only seven players in the 78-strong field were under par for the day.

American Kyle Reifers fired a level-par 70 to hold the clubhouse lead at even-par 280.