Sergio Garcia and Bernhard Langer were hanging tough during the final round of the Players Championship on Sunday.
In extremely strong winds that were wreaking havoc at Sawgrass, Garcia and Langer avoided any major trouble in the early going.
Americans Paul Goydos and Kenny Perry shared the lead at five under after six holes, while Garcia was breathing down their necks, one stroke behind.
American Briny Baird was three under after 10 holes with Langer two under after eight.
Garcia and Langer were seeking to become just the second European winner of the prestigious event, joining Sandy Lyle (1987).
In winds gusting to 40 mph, birdies were few and far between, with the average score approaching 75. Conditions would have been impossible if the greens had not been heavily watered overnight.
Garcia, easily the best player in the field from tee to green through the first three rounds, coped with the conditions superbly.
After a bogey at the first he settled down to run off a string of pars before sinking a 10-footer for birdie at the seventh.
Langer, at 50 seeking to become the oldest champion, had two birdies and two bogeys in eight holes, but that was enough to pick up ground on the leaders.
Overnight leader Goydos was scrappy early on with a couple of bogeys, but he stemmed the bleeding with a birdie at the fourth, where he sank an unlikely 50-footer.