Garcia has held the lead for the last two rounds in Japan

Sergio Garcia extended his lead to three shots after the third day of the Dunlop Phoenix event on Kyushu Island in Japan.

The Spaniard fired a four-under-par 67 to lie at 15-under for the tournament.

He leads from fellow Ryder Cup team-mate Thomas Bjorn, who shot 69, but may rue two bogeys in this last three holes.

Garcia dropped a shot on the 435-yard second but picked up two at the fifth and seventh and these were followed by back-to-back birdies on 11 and 12.

Another bogey at 14 was then followed by birdies on the 16th and 18th.

After a hit-and-miss second round, Lee Westwood improved to move into a tie for 11th place with a three-under-par round of 68 to leave him on four-under.