Americans take over at top

Martin Laird and Ian Poulter tumbled out of the lead while world number one Rory McIlroy crashed out of golf’s richest event again on Friday.

Laird shot 73 and Poulter 76 to allow Americans Zach Johnson, Kevin Na and Matt Kuchar to take over in front at eight under par in the £5.8million Players Championship at Sawgrass in Florida.