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Donald started the round a distant seven strokes behind halfway leader Phil Mickelson, but the 29-year-old from High Wycombe seemed certain to end the day within striking distance, perhaps as few as two strokes back.

Donald, who finished equal second in 2005, got off to an ideal start with a 25-foot birdie at the first hole, and he added seven more birdies in benign conditions at the Sawgrass TPC, his only bogey coming at the par-four 10th, where he sank an eight-footer to avoid dropping two shots.

"My first two rounds I felt just a little bit off," he said after posting a five-under 211 total. Today was a lot better. I hit a lot more fairways, a lot more greens.

"It was easy golf today and I putted very well, didn't leave too much out there. I wasn't in great shape [starting the day] but I knew, if I had a good round, I could get myself back into position. The key to my round was the birdie at the first. Any time you start like that, it gives you a boost."

Donald was only two strokes behind American clubhouse leader Jeff Quinney, with several others contenders still on the course.

Sergio Garcia, a team-mate of Donald's on last year's victorious European Ryder Cup team, also had a great round going until he made a mess of the par-four 18th, pulling is six-iron second shot into the water for a double bogey.

Meanwhile, Ian Poulter (72) and Padraig Harrington (74) fell out of contention, nine and 11 strokes respectively behind Quinney.

Tiger Woods surrendered any faint chance of winning with a lame 73, and had nothing thing to say after signing for a five-over 221 total.