Tiger Woods surrendered any chance of winning the Players Championship with a poor third round. And Padraig Harrington's slim hopes are also fading as his third round draws to a close.

An out-of-sorts Woods, who barely made the halfway cut, struggled to a one-over-par 73 in benign morning conditions at the Sawgrass TPC. It was exactly what he did not need after starting the day nine strokes behind halfway leader Phil Mickelson, and he was destined to end the day near the rear of the field.

Harrington, who started the day on two over, mixed three birdies with five bogeys to lie four over after 14 holes.

Woods had nothing to say after signing for a five-over 221 total, but Henrik Stenson, who played with the world number one for a third successive day, was happy to comment.

"He's frustrated," Stenson said. "He was more struggling with his long game than putting today, even though the putts didn't go in, but he's allowed to have a bad week."

Stenson was speaking after shooting an excellent 66 to post a two-under 214 total that, depending on whether the wind tests the late starters, may be within striking distance at the end of the day.

Stenson was not the only European to move in the right direction, with Luke Donald also making his presence felt.

Donald, a member of last year's victorious European Ryder Cup team, picked up five shots in 13 holes to improve to three under, just two shots behind overnight leader Mickelson, who was due to tee off at 7.35pm local time, one shot ahead of Australian journeyman Nathan Green.