Laird takes two-shot lead

The Scotsman wobbled with bogeys on the 14th and 15th but recovered to birdie the next hole and finish the day with a two-under 70 and a 54-hole total of 11-under par.

Spencer Levin of the US ended the round in outright second place, two behind Laird. Levin briefly shared the lead with Laird but made successive bogeys on the 15th and 16th holes to slip behind. Americans Bubba Watson (68) and Steve Marino (71) were tied for third place, four shots behind Laird.

Tiger Woods' hopes of a seventh win at Bay Hill were effectively sunk after a disappointing round of 74.