Goydos stunned to be in control at Players Championship

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida (Reuters) - No one was more surprised than Paul Goydos after the American journeyman claimed a 54-hole lead for the first time on the PGA Tour at the Players Championship on Saturday.

The former substitute teacher, renowned for his dry wit and self-deprecating humor, has upstaged some of the sport's biggest names over the first three rounds at Sawgrass.

"This is my 16th year (on Tour) and this is my first Saturday lead," Goydos told reporters after grabbing a one-stroke lead by firing a two-under-par 70. "There you go. I guess I was due."

Asked if he was stunned by his performance at a challenging venue where he has never finished higher than tied for 38th, he replied: "Pretty much. You have to go by the track record and on this golf course, mine stinks."

Goydos, a double winner on the PGA Tour, has missed four cuts in nine previous starts at the Players Championship. He shared 38th place in 1999.

Nicknamed "Sunshine" on the Tour because of his stone-faced demeanor, the 43-year-old Californian would have plenty to smile about if he triumphs on Sunday.

The winner's check for $1.71 million would eclipse his total earnings in any single season since he turned professional in 1989.

FIRST VICTORY

"When I won in Hawaii, the same thing happened so I've done it before," he dead-panned, referring to his first PGA Tour victory in more than a decade at last year's Sony Open.

Goydos leads fellow American Kenny Perry by a shot, Spaniard Sergio Garcia by three and defending champion Phil Mickelson by five going into the final round.

He expects to be nervous but is looking forward to the challenge on one of the PGA Tour's most demanding layouts.

"Appearance is one thing," the world number 169 said. "I don't shake outside, very much anyway, but inside, yeah. But I think that's good."

Goydos, who has putted superbly on the slick Sawgrass greens all week, has no intention of changing his strategy.

"I've got a game plan for this golf course," he said. "We'll just try to execute that game plan and then worry about maybe altering that down the stretch if I need to.

"This is why I've been playing and practicing for the last 30 years. It's a good opportunity, it's a great field, it's a great golf course. It's going to be a great experience irrespective of the outcome."

(Editing by Ed Osmond)