R3 LEADERBOARD -17 L Donald -16 D Howell -15 S Kahn, S Kjeldsen (Den), B Rumford (Aus) -14 J Daly (USA), R Gonzalez (Arg) -13 A Cabrera (Arg), B Dredge, N Fasth (Swe), P McGinley, P O'Malley (Aus) (GB&I unless stated)

Donald fired 67 to reach 17-under-par, with fellow Englishman Howell on 16 under after a 66.

England's Simon Khan, Dane Soren Kjeldsen and Donald's co-overnight leader Brett Rumford, of Australia, were locked on 15 under.

American John Daly and Argentine Ricardo Gonzalez were 14 under.

Wales' Bradley Dredge and Ireland's Paul McGinley were in a group on 13 under, while Dane Thomas Bjorn finished 11 under and Ireland's Padraig Harrington ended 10 under.

If I come away with anything other than a win it will be very disappointing David Howell

Donald, also the joint halfway leader with Tiger Woods in the NEC Invitational last week, got off to a slow start with a bogey and seven straight pars.

Four off the lead going down the 557-yard par-five ninth, Donald missed the green but chipped in for an eagle three.

He followed up with three birdies in the next four holes and finished birdie-bogey-birdie.

"I struggled on the greens today," said the 27-year-old from High Wycombe.

"I couldn't get the lines and, being last out, I think a few of putts maybe hit some footprints.

"It wasn't the started I wanted but I stayed patient and kept telling myself you just need one break to get it going and that's what happened on the ninth."

Howell, meanwhile, is chasing a first win since the 1999 Dubai Desert Classic after losing back-to-back play-offs in the British Masters and Irish Open earlier this year.

I'm the only guy who has won one major, much less two, who has never played the Ryder Cup John Daly

He also finished fourth in the PGA Championship at Wentworth - before an abdominal injury suffered at the US Open ruled him out for two months.

"It's been a long time since I won and I'm at the stage of my career where a third or fourth place is all very nice but it's all about winning tournaments," said Howell, who missed a four-foot birdie putt on the 18th to tie with Donald.

"If I come away from tomorrow with anything other than a win it will be very disappointing, although it could be out of my hands if someone shoots a really low score.

"I've improved a lot since my win so it's strange the wins have not come."

Much of the talk in Munich has been of European Ryder Cup qualification which starts next week, but one American in the field, John Daly, is also targeting an appearance at the K Club outside Dublin next year.

The two-time major champion said: "I spoke to [captain] Tom Lehman last week and he said he would love to have me on the team.

"I kind of sense I will have to earn it, I've given up on being picked. I'm the only guy who has won one major, much less two, who has never played the Ryder Cup."