Horschel, Gooch lead at brutal Bay Hill

Billy Horschel has got a rare break on a day that punished many others as he claimed a share of the lead going into the final round of the PGA Tour's Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida.

Horschel was buried in deep rough behind the 18th green at Bay Hill and facing a fast chip down the hill. His foot was on a sprinkler head and he received a free drop.

From the collar, he was able to use putter and his 30-foot putt trickled into the cup for a birdie and a one-under 71 that left him tied in front with fellow American Talor Gooch (72) at seven under.

It was a happy moment, and those were hard to find in a third round where Viktor Hovland lost a four-shot lead at the turn, mild-mannered Australian Matt Jones heaved his putter into the water and Rory McIlroy lost momentum with a tee shot out-of-bounds.

The Bay Hill course is a strong test in any condition but add in gusty winds and greens so baked by the sun there was barely any grass, and this was all the best players in golf could handle.

Hovland ended up with a 75 and is a shot behind the leaders in outright third.

Hovland suffered as much as anyone. He three-putted from 10 feet on the par-3 second hole and his back nine turned into a slow bleed, twice taking three putts for bogey.

Scottie Scheffler managed to make a charge, his 68 matching the low score of the day as he moved to fourth spot, two strokes behind the leaders.

Gary Woodland overcame three bogeys for a round of 70 and was three shots behind, followed by the group of Chris Kirk (68), Graeme McDowell (69) and first-round leader McIlroy, whose 76 could have been worse.

"I feel like I've never had as many 6-footers for bogeys as I've had today," McIlroy said.

"It's so tough out there. It's so tricky. It's just