Rory McIlroy says he "left a lot out there" despite dropping four shots off the lead after the third round at the Players Championship on Saturday.

JJ Spaun has a one-shot lead going into the final round after carding 70 in the third round to take him to 12 under, but McIlroy stayed in contention on the final hole.

The Northern Irishman was briefly within one of the lead, but three bogeys in a six-hole stretch on the back nine in heavy winds saw his chances fade. However, a closing birdie salvaged a one-over 73.

He is tied for fifth with overnight leader Akshay Bhatia and Corey Connors on eight under. Bud Cauley's six-under 66 pushed him into second, one shot off the lead, with Alex Smalley and Lucas Glover two behind in joint-third.

"I felt like I played better than I scored," McIlroy told Sky Sports.

"Every dropped shot I felt like was soft. I three-putted the fifth, 13th and the 17th. I also took four to get down from not very far away on 12.

"I controlled my ball well apart from that. It's just unfortunate that I had a couple of sloppy mistakes from around the greens - I feel like I left a lot out there.

"At the same time, I'm not too far away, and it was nice to birdie the last at least."

J.J. Spaun leads with 18 holes to go at THE PLAYERS. #THEPLAYERS | @JJSpaun pic.twitter.com/ZvUI6uiGeX

— THE PLAYERS (@THEPLAYERS) March 15, 2025

Spaun, playing alongside McIlroy, held a solo lead throughout the back nine and holed a dramatic 25-foot putt to save par on the final hole and claim the lead at the end of the round.

The threat of thunderstorms has seen tee times brought forward for Sunday's final round, and Spaun is determined to finish the event on a high.

"I've just got to address it as another round," he said to Sky Sports.

"I know what is at stake - I've won on tour before - and I've had the attitude that I've got nothing to lose, which has been working out so far this week. I've just got to keep that rolling into tomorrow."

Meanwhile, world number one Scottie Scheffler is currently tied at 16th on five under after carding a level-par 72 on Saturday.

Scheffler's irritation was on show as mistakes saw him drop away from the leading pack, leaving him in need of a remarkable round if he is to secure an unprecedented third straight title at Sawgrass.