Bjorn carded a third-round 66 for an 18-under-par total as he seeks to regain the title he won two years ago.

Ryder Cup team-mate Bernhard Langer overcame a bout of food poisoning to card a round of 67 to move into second place alongside England's Richard Bland.

And in a good day for Europe's Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance, Belfry reserve Ian Poulter carded a 70 to be a shot further adrift alongside fellow Englishman Jamie Spence.

Bjorn holed seven birdies and just one three-putt bogey at Nord-Eichenried on his way to the top of the leaderboard.

He said: "I hit a few loose shots early on but I did all the things I could do to keep people at bay.

"It's nice to be in the mix and feel comfortable about it again. It's not something that happens that often.

"I feel my game is coming together and it's nice at this stage of the year. It's an important time and all the hard work I have done is starting to benefit me.

"It's important for me to get where I feel I should belong in the Order of Merit and the world rankings (27th and 38th respectively).

"And with the Ryder Cup in mind it's nice to feel my game is coming along."

Ireland's Padraig Harrington spoiled his 31st birthday celebrations with two closing bogeys to finish 10 strokes off the pace before revealing he is to get a scan on his injured ankle.

But compatriot Paul McGinley had his best round since early June, a 66, to climb to 12-under.

Earlier, John Daly shot a third-round 65 as he refused to give up his BMW International Open title without a fight.

The American strung together a solid round of nine birdies and a just one bogey for an 11-under total of 205.

Daly needed a birdie at the 18th on Friday to make the cut after two poor rounds.

"I needed this to get my confidence back," he said after Saturday's improved performance.

"I don't know if it's going to put me in position to win, but it felt good."

Early morning mist meant play began three hours late at 0940 BST.

It forced tournament officials to revise the draw, putting players in groups of three instead of two in an attempt to make up lost time.