Johnson closes in on WGC title as European challenge drowns

After a 15-foot eagle putt on the long first had taken Harrington into a share of second spot with Donald, two behind American Dustin Johnson, he was twice in the lake at the 438-yard third.

Even with a 14-foot putt at the end of it a triple bogey seven went on the Dubliner’s card and, with Johnson two-putting the opener for birdie, it was asking an awful lot to come back from that.

At least Donald limited the damage to a bogey after following Harrington into the water with his approach from the rough to the third.

Chasing his second world title in three weeks – and one which would take him to second in the world ahead of Lee Westwood – the 33-year-old then only just carried the lake at the short fourth.

But a neat up and down saved Donald’s par there and on 11 under and three behind his hopes remained high.

Johnson played the first four in one under, but was caught when Hunter Mahan, the leader after the first and second rounds, had four birdies in the first six and Matt Kuchar had three in five.

On 14 under they were two shots ahead of their compatriot Nick Watney.

Donald was in a tie for fifth with 21-year-old Rory McIlroy, the Northern Irishman two-putting the first for birdie and then salvaging a par on the fifth by chipping in after going from fairway bunker to greenside trap.

Scotland’s Martin Laird resumed on nine under, but after making birdie from five feet at the second he bogeyed the sixth before making birdie like Harrington on the seventh. It put both of them on nine under.

Only one behind them in 13th spot was Tiger Woods, who from 30th at the start of the day was at last finding form - too late for this week, but encouraging with The Masters only three weeks ago.

Woods turned in 34, then birdied the 11th, 12th, 16th and 17th, where his approach ran over the edge of the hole to three feet.

The pressure seemed to be telling as Kuchar missed a six-foot chance on the sixth and bogeyed the next, then Johnson missed a five-foot birdie chance at the seventh and Mahan bogeyed the ninth.

Johnson was back in front on his own on 14 under, with Kuchar and Mahan 13 under and Watney, Donald and Italian Francesco Molinari 12 under, while McIlroy bogeyed the seventh and had four shots to make up.

Woods parred the last for a best-of-the-day 66. He was still outside the top 10 on eight under, but the smiles were there and he said: “It’s progressing.

“I’m still building, still putting the pieces together, which is quite nice.

“I hit a lot of good shots and when I did miss it I knew how to fix it.”

Westwood birdied the last for a 68 and six-under total. He was lying 18th.