Couples Gets in It With a 63 : Golf: He trails Faldo by four shots after course record at Players Championship.

Before he teed off Saturday in the third round of the $1.8-million Players Championship, Nick Faldo took a look at the leaderboard.

It showed Fred Couples with a course-record, nine-under-par 63 on the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass and positioned among the leaders.

“The man’s so hot he must be wearing asbestos shorts,” Faldo said of Couples, whose recent run has taken him to the top of world golf.

Undismayed, Faldo said he “thought I’d try to go forward as well” and responded to Couples’ charge with a bogey-free 67 that gave him a one-shot lead going into today’s final round of the chase for a $324,000 first prize.

Faldo completed 54 holes in 203, 13 under par, and said he is “more in control now than I’ve been in a long time.”

Couples, who was at the cut figure, par 144, when the day started, is in a group of four at 207, four strokes behind.

“I know that I’m going to be close enough that with a 66 or 67 I can win,” said Couples, who was in the second group off the tee at 9:05 a.m. and finished play long before the leaders even started.

“I’m in great shape now,” he said. “I know I’ll be playing late tomorrow, and I’ll just come out and try to play another good round.”

Three other players are between Faldo and Couples, however, and another good effort will be required to extend his nine-month streak that has produced five victories and 19 finishes of sixth or better in 23 worldwide starts.

Phil Blackmar, who lost a chance to win this title a year ago with a ball in the water on the 71st hole, was second alone at 204.

The 6-foot-7 Blackmar, the biggest player on the pro tour, had a share of the lead until he bogeyed the final hole and shot 68.

British Open champion Ian Baker-Finch of Australia was another stroke behind at 205 after a 68, and Davis Love followed at 206. He birdied the 18th hole for a 71.

Couples was in a group at 207 with Mike Smith (66), Nick Price (69) and Mark Brooks (70).

Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain took himself out of contention with a 75 that included a triple bogey on the 10th hole and a double bogey on the 18th.