ORLANDO, FLORIDA – MARCH 07: Tyrrell Hatton of England reacts to his birdie on the 18th green during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 07, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

By Christopher Powers

Sixty-nine players teed it up on Saturday at Bay Hill. Only one (Max Homa) shot under par. Twenty-five of them shot rounds of five over or worse, including Sung Kang, who held a share of the 36-hole lead.

Somehow, Tyrrell Hatton escaped the wreckage nearly unscathed, posting a one-over 73 that was good enough to give him the solo lead heading into Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Hatton made two birdies on his final three holes, including a 31-footer at the 18th to reach six-under 210. He has a two-shot edge over Rory McIlroy and Marc Leishman.

Leishman was one of seven players who managed to get around in even par, making two birdies and two bogeys. He’ll play in the final group alongside Hatton as he tries to win the API for the second time, his first coming in 2017. Leishman’s already won once in the 2019-’20 season at Torrey Pines.

“It was really tough,” said Leishman of Saturday’s carnage. “I actually added my score up, my scorecard up in the scorer’s hut there and kind of did a double-take. I added up to 72 and it felt like I shot a 65, not a 72. So, yeah, it was really tough. The greens were firm, fast. It was exactly how you wanted the golf course to play, really. Par was a great score and hopefully I can play like that again tomorrow.”

If not for an 18th hole bogey, McIlroy would be just one off the lead. He also shot 73, and like Leishman, has a chance to win his second API. The Northern Irishman won the even two years ago with a final-round 64.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Sungjae Im, Danny Lee and Harris English all sit in a tie for fourth at three-under 213.