Belgium’s Thomas Pieters kept his composure during the third round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational to move level with American Zach Johnson at the top of the leaderboard going into the final round.
Pieters, 4.20 favourite to win the event, carded a round of 66 to move onto nine-under par and will play with Johnson on Sunday, whose 65 saw him move up two places as the two-time major winner looks for his first win of the 2017 campaign.
The duo birdied the final hole but Australia’s Scott Hend is lurking on eight-under in third after a superb 63 saw him climb 10 places, while Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama is just behind him after a 67 moved him into fourth.
Adam Hadwin, Charley Hoffman and Rory McIlroy all remain in contention in a tie for fifth on six-under, while Russell Knox is alone in eighth.
Pieters continues to have trouble with his driver but the European Ryder Cup star believes he is now in with a decent chance of victory.
He told the PGA Tour: “My ball striking was good, driver was not good. It’s been like that for ages but I managed to score really well, so pretty happy.
“I’m in a good position for tomorrow. The wins I’ve had I finished really well.
But I think the ones I’ve gotten in contention this year I’ve gotten very quick, and changing direction, my backswing got a little quick.
“Not so much nervous but just anxious to finish and to have a good finish.
Maybe tomorrow I have to get back to being calm and just let it come to me.”
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