Faldo made a late surge to join the leaders

"I played the par fives well, and that's key on this course.

"I am playing pretty solid and they are going to have to shoot a decent score tomorrow if I play well.

"Let the guys come after me. I enjoy the pressure. If you go on a roller-coaster, what is the sense in going on at all if it isn't exciting?"

Colin Montgomerie had a disappointing third round but recovered from a poor start to make 72.

The Scot was joined on nine under by a resurgent Nick Faldo, who made a birdie on the last to shoot 68, and Mark McNulty, who finished with three birdies.

"It's tricky in the wind," said Faldo. "It's a calculated guess and if you get it wrong you look a right Charlie.

"Hansen is obviously playing great. That's incredible scoring in the conditions."

Montgomerie had a difficult day

Hansen's birdie on the 12th was his sixth of the round, with only one shot dropped, and a four at the par-five 17th ensured a five-stroke lead.

It was much harder work for Montgomerie, who made bogeys on the third, sixth and seventh.

He made something of a comeback but failure to secure a birdie on either of the closing par fives may have left him too far back to challenge on Sunday.

Faldo finished alongside Montgomerie, but was far happier with his day's work.

A blistering six-under-par back nine of 31 gives him a realistic chance of the second-place finish he needs to qualify for next month's US Open.

Romero looked out of contention after dropping to six under by the 16th, but back-to-back eagles on the last two holes put him back in with a chance at 10 under.

And McNulty also finished in style, making three birdies to end on nine under par.