Goydos finds his way to TPC lead

PONTE VEDRA BEACH — On moving day at the 35th Players Championship, most of the movement went the wrong way.

And unless someone else makes a move in the right direction today, the winner is likely to come out of the final pairing.

On the hottest day in the history of The Players with temperatures climbing into the low 90s, Paul Goydos and Kenny Perry put a sliver of distance between themselves and the rest of the field. Goydos shot a 70 and leads by one over Perry, who

managed a 72.

“I like my position,” said Goydos, the journeyman pro whose best finish in the tournament is a tie for 38th.

Goydos has won twice on the Tour but those victories came 11 years apart. This is his first 54-lead ever.

“It's my 16th year,” he said. “I guess I was due.”

A birdie on the 17th propelled Goydos into the lead and he has needed only one putt on 31 of the 54 holes this week.

“I've made my share of 10 and 15 footers,” he said. “My caddy (Scott Sajtinac) has been reading them well. It's like we're in a mind meld.”

Perry struggled with his driver all day but made a gutty par on 18 to stay one shot back at 6-under par. He made two bogeys and two birdies and — like Goydos — saved a bunch of pars with his putter.

“A lot of survival out there,” Perry said. “A lot of tough situations you find yourself in. It's very difficult out there.”

Some of the biggest names in golf found that out the hard way.

Sergio Garcia shot his second straight 73 after making bogeys on the final two holes, including a three-putt on 17 from 10 feet. Phil Mickelson might have thrown away his chance to become the first repeat winner when he sliced a drive into the water on 14 and made double bogey.

Bernhard Langer, a surprise contender after a 67 Friday, shot 75 on Saturday despite a birdie-birdie start to his day.

The biggest move to the rear came from Fred Couples, who shot himself out of contention with a 77 despite a chip-in birdie on the 18th hole. Anthony Kim, the 22-year old phenom, fell victim to the 17th hole where he dunked his tee shot and made a six, the followed it up with a double bogey on 18 for a back nine 43.

There are only two golfers within four shots of the lead, Garcia being one of them three back.

“I've got to go out there and try to shoot the lowest score I can shoot and hopefully it's good enough,” Garcia said. “I hope I move forward. I'm not waiting for the field to come back.”

That's the goal for Mickelson as well, who is now five shots back after a closing bogey on 18. Mickelson was chasing down the leaders at four-under before his drive on 14 landed in the water. The world's No. 2 golfer was battling a cold that kept him from practicing before the round.

“I felt it coming on (Friday). I had a really sore throat,” he said. I took a bunch of Advil to get rid of kind of the body ache and discomfort and tried to conserve energy.

“I have to shoot something in the mid-60's to have a chance. I'm playing well enough to do it, I just have to do it.”

The three former Gators still in the field moved in the wrong direction as well. Chris DiMarco was one of three players not to make a birdie on Saturday and shot 78 to leave him at 6-over par. Camilo Villegas shot a 42 on the back nine for a 77 that left him at 8-over. Brian Gay is the low Gator after a 75 put him at 5-over.