McDowell is playing his fourth European event

Playing only his fourth European Tour event, 23-year-old McDowell was delayed arriving in Stockholm, and only had time for nine holes of practice at Kungsangen.

It was the first time he had seen the course, just days after signing an agreement to represent them on the European Tour during his first season as a professional.

Yet less than 48 hours later he had carded a new course record 64 to lead after the first round, and on Saturday, using a putter given to him by Darren Clarke, fired four birdies and an eagle before a last hole bogey cost him the outright lead.

"Darren gave me the putter last Monday but I used a different one for the first two rounds of a Challenge Tour event," said the 23-year-old from Portrush.

"I put it in the bag on Saturday and straight away shot 66. He also sent me a text message after the first round and he's been a big help the last few years.

"He doesn't seem approachable but I played a couple of times with him at Portrush and he offered to help me out."

McDowell will partner South African Trevor Immelman in the penultimate group on Sunday and feels that will give him a great chance to claim the �200,000 first prize that will secure his tour card for next season.

"Yesterday was pretty difficult for me, I was very protective because I was leading the tournament," added McDowell.

"Today I was much more relaxed and had fun out there. It helped being in the third last group and it will help not being in the last group as well on Sunday."

Sluman is playing his first European Tour event outside the Open championship, and was only persuaded to play after flying over to attend the wedding of Jesper Parnevik's sister Jill to Per-Ulrik Johansson.

"Jesper's been trying to get me to come over for the last few years but the wedding clinched it," said Sluman, whose wife Linda is half-Swedish.

Johansson made up for a slow start

"A Swedish wedding is a little different from an American one but it's something I will always remember.

"I had my European Tour card in 1984 but unfortunately never used it because I got my US card as well, but we've had a great time in Stockholm. It's been a wonderful experience and I hope I can finish it off with a win."

Johansson set the early pace in Stockholm by breaking the course record with an eight-under-par 63, beating the mark set by McDowell on Thursday.

Having made a slow start to the week following a whirlwind two-day honeymoon, Johansson could now follow brother-in-law Parnevik - the 1995 winner - onto the Scandinavian Masters winner's podium.

"Obviously it was difficult getting motivated earlier on in the week and I guess I didn't really expect much of myself this week," said Johansson, who plays mostly on the US Tour.

"But when I made eagle on the ninth with a three-iron to 30 feet I was really going for it.

"We only come here once a year, so to shoot a course record in your own country and in front of your own fans is fantastic."

Third round leaderboard (GB&Ire unless stated):

10 under Niclas Fasth (Swe), Jeff Sluman (USA), Graeme McDowell
9 underTrevor Immelman (Rsa)
8 under Henrik Bjornstad (Nor), Carl Pettersson (Swe)
6 under Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe), David Drysdale, Joakim Haegmann (Swe), Peter Lonard (Aus), Jamie Donaldson, Peter Hedblom (Swe), Matthew Cort, Adam Scott (Aus), Marcel Siem (Ger), Marry Lane, Mark Foster