American Chris Kirk heads into the final round of the PGA Tour season opener in Hawaii with a one-stroke lead.
Kirk hit eight birdies and a bogey in a third-round 66 to push his way into pole position at The Sentry in Maui.
World number one Scottie Scheffler, the halfway leader, hit a 71 to drop three shots off the lead.
Tyrrell Hatton could not replicate Friday’s 62, carding a 72 and dropping into a tie for 14th a further two shots back.
Rory McIlroy unfazed by bogeys and bad forecast in Players Championship
Rory McIlroy answers the call after a spot of mobile phone interference
Rory McIlroy’s magic touch on the 18th leaves him one shot off lead at Players
‘No way I’ll still be playing at 50’: Rory McIlroy saddened by Tiger Woods injury
Fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick is four shots off the pace in a share of 10th after a 69.
American Akshay Bhatia, 21, pushed his way into second spot, one stroke behind Kirk on 20 under, while Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth and Byeong Hun An are a further stroke back in third.
Kirk said he will have to remain aggressive to hold his lead.
“You certainly can’t protect anything out here, that’s for sure,” he said.
“When it’s a shootout like this and the scores are really low, you just stay aggressive and just go do your thing.”
Ireland’s Séamus Power hit a third straight two-under 71 to move up six places on the leaderboard, but is well down the field in tied 50th.