PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Alex Cejka could see chaos all around him at The Players Championship, or at least hear it through the groans of a scorching day at the TPC Sawgrass that delivered so many meltdowns.

He was among the few to survive, taking on the flag with an 8-iron on the final hole that set up a 5-foot birdie for an even-par 72 and a five-shot lead, the largest after three rounds in the 36 years of this prestigious event.

Time to exhale? Not quite.

In a tournament full of surprises, the biggest of all might be his date in today's final round: Tiger Woods.

Woods didn't look like a player who should be in contention, not after having to play one shot left-handed from the base of a pine, missing one shot by 40 feet with a wedge in his hand and looking increasing frustrated at birdie chances that slipped away.

But back-to-back birdies, followed by a huge break on the 18th hole, changed his fortunes.

His 2-under 70 turned out to be good enough to move up 20 spots into a six-way tie for second, in the final pairing today with a 38-year-old Czech-born German has never held a final-round lead on U.S. soil.

"It's going to be tough," said Cejka, who was at 11-under 205. "He's the best player. It's going to be a good challenge for me. I know I have a lead, but it's against not only Tiger but against the rest of the field. I've got to play well tomorrow to win here."

Henrik Stenson was two shots behind until he bogeyed three of the last five holes, nearly chipping into the water on the 16th. He wound up with a 73, and was in the six-way tie for second that included Woods, two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen (71), Jonathan Byrd (71), Ben Crane (72) and Ian Poulter, who didn't make a single birdie on his way to a 75.

Woods got into the final group because he was the first to finish among the group at 6-under 210.

"You figured some of the guys would shoot 3- or 4-under-par today, but it's just not happening out there," Woods said.

LPGA

WRIGHT, KERR SHARE MICHELOB ULTRA LEAD

Williamsburg, Va. — Lindsey Wright shot a 7-under 64 and Cristie Kerr had a 66 to share the third-round lead as Lorena Ochoa faltered yesterday in the Michelob Ultra Open.

Wright and Kerr are at 15-under 198 on the Kingsmill Resort & Spa, River Course. In-Kyung Kim is one back after a 67 and will play with Song-Hee Kim, who is two back after a 68.

The top-ranked Ochoa, who started the day leading by three, is now five behind after a 74. Hawai'i's Michelle Wie, a Stanford sophomore and Punahou alum, shot 73 and is at 210.

EUROPEAN PGA

VANCSIK LEADS BY ONE IN ITALIAN OPEN

TURIN, Italy — Daniel Vancsik of Argentina shot a 2-under 69 despite two late bogeys yesterday to retain a slim lead after the third round of the Italian Open.

The round was suspended for nearly 4 hours because of a thunderstorm, and Vancsik bogeyed two of his last three holes when play resumed. He still leads Finland's Roope Kakko (68) by one shot at 11-under 202.