Players Championship: Rory McIlroy four shots off lead

Rory McIlroy finished fourth at the 2015 Masters last month

Rory McIlroy is four shots off the lead heading into the final day of the Players Championship at Sawgrass.

The world number one shot 70 in Florida on Saturday to leave him at six under.

The 26-year-old, from Northern Ireland, is tied with England's Ian Poulter, 39, who followed Friday's round of 69 with a two-under-par 70 on day three.

Chris Kirk shot his second successive four-under 68 to take the lead on 10 under from fellow Americans Kevin Kisner, Bill Haas and Ben Martin.

American Justin Thomas, 22, carded an impressive 65 to tie for fifth with Sergio Garcia, the 2008 champion, at eight under.

"I'm going to need something pretty special, a 64 or 65, to have a chance," said McIlroy, who is chasing back-to-back wins after last week's victory in the WGC Match Play.

"I've given myself a lot of chances and really could not convert much - I've struggled to read the greens all week."

Earlier in the day, former world number one Tiger Woods, 39, struggled to a third round of 75, to be 13 shots off the lead on three over par.

The 14-time major winner recorded multiple double bogeys on par-fives for the first time in his professional career as he needed seven shots at both the second and ninth holes.