Kevin Na leads Players by one shot

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — 

— False starts? Kevin Na even drives himself crazy sometimes with the number of times he backs off a shot.

Bogeys? Not Saturday.

Somehow blocking out the murmurs every time he stepped back from a shot, the South Korean-born pro used two birdies in his final three holes to take a one-stroke lead at the Players Championship — and perhaps set himself up for an even more nerve-jangling final round.

“I know how to play under pressure,” said Na, whose first PGA Tour win came seven months ago in Las Vegas. “I’ve just got to take the experience of all the things I’ve learned and try my best.”

Though he seemingly started well over 100 swings, only 68 of them were performed to completion — second-fewest of the day. And after trailing Matt Kuchar for most of the day, he took advantage with those birdies after Kuchar dunked his tee shot into the water at No. 17.

“What a way to finish,” said Na, who completed the climb with a 15-foot birdie at No. 18. “Hit a beautiful tee shot, beautiful second shot and perfect putt. It was a good way to finish.”

Na completed 54 holes at 12-under-par 204. Kuchar wound up with a three-under 69, joining Na as the only players to break 70 in all three rounds.

Rickie Fowler, six days after notching his first PGA Tour win, lurked three shots off the pace after a 66 that was the day’s best. Zach Johnson, who shared the midway lead with Na and Kuchar, shot 73 to drop five shots back alongside Ben Curtis (70).

Tiger Woods found himself 10 shots back after an even-par 72, unable to build on the momentum of a 68 on Friday. “I just got nothing out of the round,” he said.

Phil Mickelson has only slightly less ground to make up, eight shots off the pace after a 70.

With another day of warm temperatures and swirling winds expected at TPC Sawgrass, though, no one would rule out someone charging from the chase pack.

“I think if you’re within six shots, you have a chance to win the golf tournament,” said Jonathan Byrd, who found himself right on the threshold by day’s end. “This is a difficult golf course; you don’t have to get far off to struggle. Whoever wins has to play a heck of a round.”

Said Na: “I know Kooch is playing well. A lot of guys behind me are playing well, so I’m going to have to go out and put my best game on.”

That’s what makes Na’s performance so maddeningly remarkable. Waggling incessantly over shots — particularly on the tee — would sometimes get him so tightly wound that he had to back off and start again.

Sometimes he would intentionally whiff several inches over the ball, groaning in frustration. After No. 16, he was given a slow-time assessment.

“He didn’t look like the leader, did he, with all that happening,” NBC analyst Johnny Miller said.

Said Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee: “He needs an exorcist.”

When he eventually pulled the trigger, though, Na’s swing was magnificent. He missed only three greens all day. And he leads the field in putting — the one place where he doesn’t double clutch.

“As much as viewers don’t want to watch me back off, it’s just as frustrating for me,” said Na, who developed the habit while going through a swing change last year with coach Dale Lynch.

“I’m screaming at myself to pull the trigger. All I can do is try my best and do what is best for me to play well.”

jshain@orlandosentinel.com