LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Matt Kuchar stumbled late in the third round of the Humana Challenge, handing the lead to Erik Compton, Bill Haas, Justin Thomas and Michael Putnam.
Two strokes ahead after a birdie on the par-5 14th, Kuchar bogeyed three of the final four holes Saturday for a 1-under 71 on PGA West's Arnold Palmer Private Course.
"It's too bad, but it's what happened," Kuchar said. "I've still got one more day left to try to make some birdies and still pull this thing out."
Two-time heart transplant recipient Compton shot a 67 on the Jack Nicklaus Private Course to join Haas, Thomas and Putnam at 17-under 199. Haas, the 2010 winner, had a 69 on the Nicklaus layout. Thomas shot 68 on the Palmer course, and Putnam had a 69 at La Quinta Country Club.
Kuchar was a stroke back along with Ryan Palmer, Scott Pinckney and Steve Wheatcroft.
The highest-ranked player in the field at No. 11, Kuchar lost a shot on the par-3 15th when he drove to the right, sent his second to the back edge and missed a 14-footer.
Kuchar bogeyed the par-3 17th after his tee shot went right, bounced sideways off the rocks at the foot of the Santa Rosa Mountains and raced into the All-American Canal.
"With a pitching wedge, you're looking to hit a good shot," Kuchar said. "Unfortunately, I let it hang too much and it caught a rock and went in the water."
The seven-time tour winner closed with another rocky bogey, ending his birdie-eagle string on the par 5s. On the first 12 par 5s of the week, he had an eagle and 11 birdies.
On 18, his 235-yard approach sailed long and left into the rocks and water. After his ball rolled away on a penalty drop, he placed it deep in the dormant grass, blasted out to within eight feet and two-putted.
"I hit a great drive and was in between a 3- and 4-hybrid," Kuchar said. "I went with a 3-hybrid, trying to get it back to the hole and hit a solid shot that just didn't fade."
Baylor school alumnus Harris English is five shots off the lead at 204.