Watson leads despite McIlroy surge

Bubba Watson takes a three-shot lead over Justin Rose and Keegan Bradley into the final round of the Cadillac Championship in Miami, but only after Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods had threatened to steal the show on the third day.

New world number one McIlroy gave another demonstration of his enormous talent, charging from 28th place to second, only one behind, by playing the first 12 holes in a staggering nine under par.

But after an eagle and seven birdies McIlroy then bogeyed the 14th and 16th and instead of challenging or even beating the Doral course record of 61 the 22-year-old had to settle for 'only' a 65.

And with American left-hander Watson, a colossal hitter of the ball, then scoring 67 Northern Ireland's US Open champion is eight behind in joint eighth.

Rose, with a chance to record his fourth victory in the States and to return to the world top six four years after he was last there, remains Europe's best hope.

The 31-year-old three-putted the last for a 69, however, and because of it will not be playing with Watson for the fourth day in a row.

Woods birdied the first three holes, had another on the sixth and pitched in for par at the short ninth after hitting his tee shot into the water.

There was also a rare birdie at the treacherous 18th to admire, but on the down side the man who finished runner-up to McIlroy at last week's Honda Classic after a closing 62 had bogey sixes at the eighth and 12th and dropped another stroke on the 14th.

That all added up to a 68 and a matching nine under par aggregate.

Second-ranked Luke Donald is on the same mark after a 69, but they all need something special just to get back in the hunt for the second of the season's world championships.