Donald steps up defence bid

Luke Donald feels his best form is coming after moving to within two of the lead at the Tampa Bay Championship.

The world number three, who is hoping to win this event for the second year running, was six back at halfway but a third round 67 at the Copperhead Course has left him in great position to make a successful defence.

Donald trails leaders Justin Leonard, Kevin Streelman and George Coetzee by two and said after his bogey-free round of four-under: "It was nice to go around this course and not make a mistake, not drop a shot.

"I wanted to shoot five or six under. I nearly got there but missed a couple of putts and didn't birdie any par fives.

"It could have been a really low round today but I'm certainly moving in the right direction. I feel like my game has been close, and it's obviously starting to show with some results."

The Englisman has made a slow start to the campaign with no top 15s so far from three events but he stressed that he was never going to start pressing the panic button.

"It's a fine line between success and finishing 30th," Donald said. "I think a lot of my fans and myself have always expected me to see me in the top 10 and up at the top of the leaderboard every week and sometimes golf is just not that easy."

Donald was three back going into the final round last year but a 66 got him into a play-off against Jim Furyk, Robert Garrigus, Sang-moon Bae which he won.