Ponte Vedra Beach: Webb Simpson put further daylight between himself and his rivals at the Players Championship on Saturday by carding a third-round 68 to open up a seven-stroke lead at TPC Sawgrass.

New Zealander Danny Lee shot 70 to move into second place on 12-under 204, with world No. 1 Dustin Johnson (69) another two strokes behind in third.

Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth carded matching best-of-the-day 65s to jump into a tie for ninth on eight-under-par, though they still trail the leader by 11.

Starting the day five strokes clear, Simpson increased his advantage with a solid 68, the highlight of which was holing out from a bunker for eagle at the par-five 11th.

The 2012 US Open champion's 19-under total of 197 matched the tournament 54-hole record held by Greg Norman. Simpson is also within sight of the biggest victory margin at the tournament -- seven strokes by Steve Elkington in 1997.

No golfer has surrendered a lead of more than six strokes in the final round of a PGA Tour event, though Simpson will be keen to avoid the same fate at Alex Cejka here nine years ago.

Cejka held a five-stroke lead after 54 holes.

Reuters