Henrik Stenson of Sweden carded a bogey-free, 6-under-par 66 on Saturday to take a two-stroke lead over Morgan Hoffman into the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Resort and Club in Orlando, Fla.
Stenson, who has four PGA Tour victories among his 17 international titles, holed a 20-foot eagle putt at No. 16 and collected four birdies, the last after he hit his approach with a wedge from 142 yards to within two feet at No. 18.
The big Swede played the last four holes in 4-under for the second straight day, having finished with four consecutive birdies on Friday.
“Hit some great shots and good putts coming in for the second day in a row,” said Stenson, whose score of 68-66-66, 16-under, tied Andy Bean’s tournament record for 54 holes set in 1981. “If you do that on the last four holes here, you’re going to pick up some ground.
“It was a pretty good way to finish the round, but I have to go out and do it again tomorrow. I have to keep the same mind-set. I have to stick with my game plan because it’s been working pretty well so far.”
Hoffman, who led each of the first two days with a 66-65 start, bounced back from a 2-over 38 on the front nine by making three birdies on the back to shoot 71.
Jason Kokrak posted a bogey-free 65, equaling the best round of the day, and was three shots behind in a tie for third with defending champion Matt Every (69), Ben Martin (68) and Matt Jones of Australia (67).
Sean O’Hair shot a second straight 68 and was five strokes behind in solo seventh.
Top-ranked Rory McIlroy made three bogeys in a row through No. 16 and finished at 71 to drop into a tie for 12th, seven shots back.
Rookie Daniel Berger holed his second shot with a 4-iron from 237 yards on the sixth hole for the first double eagle in tournament history en route to a 68 that left him in a tie for 23rd.
Tournament host Arnold Palmer said he could not remember another double eagle being made at Bay Hill.
