THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD: GB & Irl unless stated
-16 R Fisher -13 G McDowell -10 D Frost (RSA) - 8 S Hansen (Den), P McGinley, M Jonzon (Swe),
Selected others:-7 S Gallagher -6 C Montgomerie, R McIlroy
 Fisher is looking for his second European Tour victory |
England's Ross Fisher will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the European Open after a birdie on the 18th to finish on 16 under. In windy conditions, the 27-year-old battled for a third-round 69 at The London Club and looks on course for victory having led since the first day. Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell bogeyed the 18th for a 71 and finished the day in second place on 13 under. Defending champion Colin Montgomerie is 10 shots behind in joint 10th. The Scot bogeyed the last three holes, pulling his drive into the lake on the last, to finish in a group which included Spain's Ignacio Garrido, Peter Hanson of Sweden and 19-year-old Rory McIlroy. South African David Frost, 48, kept alive his hopes of becoming the European Tour's oldest winner with a 69 to finish the day in third place on 10 under. Sergio Garcia, who was among the favourites to win after a second-round 64, was tied for seventh on seven under.  | 606: DEBATE |
The Spaniard double bogeyed the 13th when he was put off by a photographer on the tee. It was not a good day for England's Justin Rose either as he slumped to joint 60th with a 77, while compatriot Ian Poulter had little to cheer after also carding a 77 for two under. Meanwhile, Fisher, who nearly did not play in Kent after coming through a strenuous 36 holes to qualify for the Open Championship earlier in the week, was the only player to birdie the 18th. "It's a great finishing hole from a spectator's point of view, but a bit of a pain from a player's point of view," he said. "When I hit my drive I was just thinking 'please carry the water, carry the water' and you could probably see the huge relief. "I think mine may have caused Graeme to take a more aggressive line." Fisher and McDowell were level when both eagled the 15th but McDowell then bogeyed the 16th and 18th. "We had a lot of fun out there, but obviously I'm disappointed with my finish," said McDowell. "Ross kind of pull-hooked his drive and I proceeded to do the same. I'm not quite as long as him and didn't get away with it."
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