Martin Kaymer fires 65 to share 54-hole lead at Italian Open

Martin Kaymer stormed into a share of the lead at the Italian Open after firing a superb 65 in the third round at Monza.

The German, without a win anywhere in the world since dominating last year's US Open at Pinehurst, birdied the first four holes and built on his flying start to end the day alongside Jens Fahrbring and Romain Wattel on 17 under par.

Kaymer dropped his only shot of the day at the fifth, but he got back on track with birdies at eight, 11 and 14 and came within inches of holing his approach from the rough at the 15th.

He failed to birdie the long 16th after a poor chip for his third, and he missed makeable chances at each of the final two holes before accepting he had still put together a great round.

"I started off well," said Kaymer. "But those last three holes I think I left a couple out there especially on 16 and 17, they were good putts they just didn't go in. Sixteen was a very, very poor chip but that's okay, seven under par is a very good round.

"I've placed myself in a very good position for Sunday, and I am looking forward to it. It will be a challenge to myself and a challenge to beat my opponents. I am up there with a chance to win on Sunday and that's all you want at the end of the day.

"It's important that you don't look too far ahead and start to think about what could happen. You also don't want to rush into an aggressive mode too soon. You have to also enjoy the day and I think I have enough experience of being in this position to enjoy it.

"It will be interesting to see what happens over the first nine holes and to see how I feel mentally. Once you get on the back nine you have to be a bit more spontaneous and adjust to the situation around you."

Fahrbring held the joint-overnight lead with Lucas Bjerregaard and dropped a shot at the third, but a run of three birdies from the fifth made him the first player to reach 15 under before he gave another shot back on the eighth.

The Swede responded with a birdie at the 12th, and he then picked up three shots in four holes from the 14th to reclaim the outright lead before a wayward tee shot at the last cost him his third bogey of the day.

Frenchman Wattel spent much of the round off the pace and was only one under for the day after 12 holes, but he followed a birdie at 13 with an eagle at the next and further gains at 16 and 17 lifted him into a share of the lead with Kaymer and Fahrbring.

Bernd Wiesberger made smooth progress after carding a flawless five-birdie 67 which elevated him to 15 under alongside Fabrizio Zanotti (68) and Bjerregaard, who struggled for the majority of his round until he birdied two of the last three holes to salvage a 70.

Daniel Brooks is the leading Englishman after a back-nine 31 earned him a 67 and got him to 13 under alongside former Ryder Cup player Nicolas Colsaerts, while Danny Willett is a further shot behind after a 69.