PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Adam Hadwin only wants a chance to win when he tees it up on the PGA Tour, and he’s never had a chance like this one.

Birdie putts from 35 feet and 55 feet on the back nine Saturday at the Valspar Championship stretched his lead to four shots. Equally important to him was the slick, bending 6-foot par putt on the final hole.

Adam Hadwin lines up a putt on the first hole Saturday during the third round of the Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla. Hadwin, winless in 77 career PGA Tour events, will take a four-stroke lead into the final round. Associated Press/ Mike Carlson

“Three shots is much easier to come back from than four shots is,” Hadwin said after a clean card of 4-under 67. “That extra shot could be everything tomorrow. That was a big putt for me, I think, mentally going into tomorrow.”

The 29-year-old Canadian overcame a brief bout of nerves on the practice range, playing a flawless round in a strong, warm breeze on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook. That 6-foot par putt made it 31 straight holes without a bogey, put him at 14-under 199 and gave him the four-shot lead over Patrick Cantlay.

There aren’t many experienced players chasing Hadwin. Of the three players within six shots, only Jim Herman has won on the PGA Tour. He had a 71 playing in the final group and was five shots behind.

PGA Tour rookie Dominic Bozzelli had a 70 and was at 8-under 205.

Hadwin also had a 54-hole lead in the CareerBuilder Challenge when he shot 59 in the third round. He closed with a 70 and was runner-up to Hudson Swafford.

EUROPEAN TOUR: Defending champion S.S.P. Chawrasia, Eddie Pepperell and Carlos Pigem shared the lead at 6 under in the Indian Open in New Delhi but will have to finish their third rounds Sunday morning.

Chawrasia, a five-time Asian Tour winner, and England’s Pepperell had completed 11 holes when play was suspended because of darkness. Pigem, of Spain, was on the 12th green when play was stopped.

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