General / Editor / 13 May 2007 /

Luke Donald was delighted with his superb seven-under-par 65 to move into contention after the third-round at the Players Championship.

Betfair punters who have been following the Englishman closely this week, will have been impressed at how cleanly the 29-year-old was striking the ball as he moved up the leaderboard.

He had started the day seven shots behind overnight leader Phil Mickelson but got his round off to the perfect start as he hit a birdie at the first.

The Ryder Cup ace recorded another seven birdies, with his only bogey coming at the tenth, and he is now just four shots off the pace heading into the final round.

In-play customers will now be monitoring closely how Donald, 15.5 in the winner market, starts the last day as he highlighted that was the key to his third-round success.

"My first two rounds I felt just a little bit off," said Donald. "Today was a lot better. I hit a lot more fairways, a lot more greens.
"It was easy golf today and I putted very well, didn't leave too much out there.
"I wasn't in great shape (starting the day) but I knew if I had a good round I could get myself back into position.
"The key to my round was the birdie at the first. Anytime you start like that it gives you a boost."

Sean O'Hair (4.4) leads the way after his 66 took him to nine-under, with Mickelson , trading as the 2.86 favourite, one shot back after recording a 69.

Jeff Quinney (19) carded the round of the day, an eight-under-par 64, to move up to a share of third spot alongside Australian Peter Lonard (14), who became the second man at the event to hit an albatross with a two at the par-five second.

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