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Jason Day stays two clear at Arnold Palmer Invitational

Jason Day of Australia walks
Image: Jason Day tops the leaderboard heading into the final round

Jason Day held off the challenge of Henrik Stenson to retain his two-shot advantage at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, as Rory McIlroy's slim hopes of getting back into contention came to an end.

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On a day where the threat of thunderstorms led to an early two-tee start in Orlando, Day recovered from a slow start to post a two-under 70 to stay top of the leaderboard and in a strong position to claim a first win of 2016.

Stenson has been joined in a tie for second by Troy Merritt and Kevin Chappell after the pair posted matching 67s, while McIlroy lies 16 shots adrift after carding three double-bogeys in an error-strewn 75.

Resuming two shots clear of Stenson and Justin Rose, Day quickly saw his advantage cut as he bogeyed the second after failing to get up-and-down from the sand.

Stenson matched Day's two-putt birdie at the fourth before holing the next from six feet, moving into a share of the lead when the world No 3's close-range par-save lipped out.

Adam Scott of Australia watches his tee shot on the third hole during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational
Image: Adam Scott posted a two-under 70 on Saturday

The Swede drained a 12-foot eagle at the next to go out in front, while Day almost holed out from the bunker but left a kick-in birdie.

A blemish at the next moved Stenson back alongside Day, who reclaimed his overnight lead by chipping in from the back of the eighth green.

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Jason Day joined Sarah Stirk at the Sky Cart after retaining his two-shot lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Day reached the turn clinging on to his narrow cushion after recovering from a wayward approach into the ninth by sinking a 15-footer to save par, only to give a shot back by finding the hazard and bogeying the 11th.

The lead exchanged hands again at the next as Stenson two-putted from 10 feet for bogey, with Chappell a further stroke behind having birdied four of his opening 10 holes.

 Henrik Stenson of Sweden waits on the fourth green during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCa
Image: Henrik Stenson briefly held the outright lead ahead of Day

Stenson then joined Day in completing the next two holes in par, as Chappell drained a 25-footer at the 15th to move into a tie for second.

Chappell missed the opportunity to join Day on top of the leaderboard with a second three-putt par of his round at the par-five 16th, with Stenson's birdie attempt from 15 feet at the same hole clipping the edge and staying out.

After finding the green in two, Day doubled his lead with a comfortable two-putt birdie at the 16th before joining Stenson in closing with successive pars. 

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Merritt trickled in a final-hole birdie to complete a five-under 67 and join playing partner Chappell and Stenson on 13 under, with Rose heading into Sunday four shots back.

Back-to-back bogeys over the closing two holes saw Paul Casey close with a level-par 72, with WGC-Cadillac champion Adam Scott a further stroke back on six under after also ruing a poor finish to his round.  

Adam Scott of Australia watches his tee shot on the third hole during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational
Image: Adam Scott posted a two-under 70 on Saturday

The Australian, chasing a third consecutive PGA Tour victory, was five under for the day until he found the water at the last and ran up a triple-bogey seven.

"It was really good conditions early on aside from the last 40 minutes and unfortunately the 18th got me," Scott said. "The double and triples and quads are catching up with me.

"It has been a good run and we'll see what happens tomorrow. I'm not going to win the tournament, but another good round tomorrow could go a long, long way."

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 19:  Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland watches his tee shot on the 16th hole during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Pr
Image: Rory McIlroy lies in a tie for 64th heading into the final round

McIlroy faces an early start on Sunday after another disappointing round which saw him start brightly but find the water multiple times.

The top seed birdied two of his opening six holes, but ran up a double-bogey at the 18th and followed finding the water at the third by three-putting from distance for another double at the sixth. 

Watch the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf

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