Edfors was not always down the middle but dropped only one shot

THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD
(GB & Ire unless stated):
-12 J Edfors (Swe)
-11 A Coltart
-10 C Schwartzel (SA), H Stenson (Swe)
-9 A Haig (SA), R McGowan, A Scott (Aus)
-8 C Cevaer (Fr), R McIlroy, C Montgomerie
Selected others:
-7 D Howell, Paul Lawrie
-6 L Donald, L Westwood
-5 S Garcia (Sp)
+2 M Campbell (NZ)

Sweden's Johan Edfors retained his lead after three rounds of the Qatar Masters in Doha, but will take only a single stroke advantage into the final round.

Edfors reached 12 under after four birdies in a 69 to lead Scotsman Andrew Coltart, who last won a title in 2001 but who had nine birdies in his 65.

Teenager Rory McIlroy eagled the first and moved into a share of eighth, four strokes adrift with Colin Montgomerie.

But first day leader Lee Westwood had three bogeys in a 73 and is six back.

Coltart won the inaugural Qatar Masters in 1998 and added the now defunct Great North Open in 2001, but now has to rely on invitations having dropped to 168 in the Order of Merit last season.

Having last finished in the top-10 back in 2006 at the French Open he has only two confirmed appearances this year so far.

Coltart did not let the Doha bunkers prevent him from a superb round

"You get quite low when you come home every Friday and you're not making any money," said Coltart, who knows at least a top-10 finish would secure a place at next week's Dubai Desert Classic.

The 37-year-old birdied three of the first four holes in round three and picked up five more birdies on the back nine.

"It means a lot just to be able to shoot that score again and get myself back into contention. It means a lot to me because of the places I've been."

World number eight Adam Scott kept a bogey off his card and came home in 31 for an assured 65 that lifted him into a share of fifth at nine under.

McIlroy also managed to avoid dropping a shot and matched playing partner Scott until the final hole when he could only muster a par five after hitting his second shot behind a temporary television studio.

Asked about the young Northern Irishman, Scott said: "After he holed out for eagle at the first I thought 'This kid is really good'. He struck the ball beautifully, it reminded me of myself when I came on tour.