Barclays Scottish Open, Loch Lomond, 8-11 July
Coverage: Live on BBC TV, Red Button, BBC Sport website and BBC Radio Scotland, with updates on BBC Radio 5 live Full coverage details

Scottish Open day three Highlights

Italian Edoardo Molinari made four birdies in the last five holes as he shot a superb 63 to take the third-round lead at the Scottish Open.

Molinari is on 15 under, one shot ahead of overnight leader Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland, who went round in 67.

Molinari's brother Francesco is well poised on eight under, tied for third with Sweden's Peter Hedblom.

England's Graeme Storm shot a 69 to go to six under and he shared fifth place with Shane Lowry, who carded a 66.

Clarke, 41, began the day with a four-stroke lead but that was transformed into a one-stroke deficit as a result of a round from 29-year-old Edoardo Molinari that contained seven birdies, an eagle three at the third and one bogey.

"A one-shot lead is nothing and I am playing against Darren, one of the best players all time on the European Tour," he said.

"I think it is going to help me to have Francesco there as well and hopefully he can make some birdies to get in the mix as well."

Clarke recorded six birdies and two bogeys d

uring another impressive round.

He is aiming to win a spot at next week's Open spot by becoming the highest top-five finisher who has not already qualified for St Andrews.

Both Molinari brothers have qualified but Hedblom has not.

Victory for Clarke could also move him from 38th place on the overall Ryder Cup standings to 12th - although he revealed he had not been thinking about making the Europe team.

"I have no idea where I am, but I know this is a good week to be playing well," he said.

"The Ryder Cup is not something I have been thinking an awful lot about, but I have given myself a chance to win another tournament and if I do there are a few added bonuses that come with it."

One of the rounds of the day belonged to Cheam-based player Ross Fisher, who went round the 6,534-yard course in 65 to move to four under.

606: DEBATE Will Clarke fight back?

US Open champion Graeme McDowell also enjoyed a good day. After two rounds of 71 to leave him on level par after two rounds, the Northern Ireland player shot a 68 to go three under for the championship.

It could have been even better for McDowell had he not bogeyed the 14th and 16th.

It was not such a great 18 holes for Sweden's Noren Alexander, who started the day at two over but went round in 80 on Saturday to finish on 11 over overall.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version