Gary Woodland stepped on the gas at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba on Saturday with a 5-under 66 in the third round. Woodland faced threats from all over the field (Pat Perez shot a 62, Chez Reavie shot a 63), but he maintained a one-stroke lead over Perez and leads by two over Scott Piercy.

Woodland is 18 under on the week after a third round that included seven birdies and a double bogey.

Woodland leads the field in greens hit in regulation as he has hit 48 of 54 for an 89 percent mark, which is totally absurd. He also only has one bogey and one double bogey on his scorecards this week. It has been smooth sailing all week in Mexico for the former Kansas Jayhawk.

"I played very well," said Woodland. "I drove the ball exceptionally well. Distance control into the greens was awesome. And I rolled the ball great. I played great today. I've played great all three days."

Woodland is only No. 23 in the field in putts per green in regulation, but with his ball-striking thus far, it hasn't really mattered. He made some big putts late in the round on Saturday to save a day that could have spiraled out of control after that double bogey on the par-3 15th hole.

"I've been there," Woodland told the AP about his lead. "I've been in the position a lot the last couple years. I'm excited about my game. I'm going to rely on my game and trust it and go out and have fun. ... I'm very comfortable with where my golf swing is, and I'm going to rely on it and run it out."

That's a good strategy with the way he's hitting it.


Woodland will try and hang on Sunday for his first win in a non-opposite field event since 2011. It won't be easy with Perez, Piercy, Reavie, Webb Simpson and Russell Knox nipping at his heels. The final round of this tournament should be great, though. Three of the last four finales have gone into playoffs, and one of the others was decided by a single stroke.