Clarke moves three clear

Clarke: finding form at just the right time

I came here to try to show Nick I have a bit of game and if I play well I have a great chance.

Darren Clarke
Quotes of the week

Leaderboard
D Clarke (NI) -12
H Stenson (Swe) -9
J Bickerton (Eng) -8
M Campbell (NZ) -7
M Warren (Sco) -7

Related links

Report

• Clarke claims emotional win

Also see

• EuroTour Schedule
• World Rankings
• Golf live on Sky Sports

Darren Clarke will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the KLM Open after firing an equal best-of-the-day 66 on Saturday.

The Northern Irishman's impressive four-under effort at the Kennemer Golf and Country Club in Zandvoort featured five birdies and, in the process, boosted his credentials for one of European captain Nick Faldo's two wild cards for September's Ryder Cup.

Clarke is three clear of Sweden's Henrik Stenson (68), with John Bickerton (66) of England a further stroke back in third.

"I came here to try to show Nick I have a bit of game and if I play well I have a great chance," said Clarke, who was the inspiration behind Europe's record equalling nine-point victory in the 2006 Ryder Cup when he won all his three games just six weeks after his wife Heather died of breast cancer.

"I had lots of chances and hit a lot of really good shots - and a couple of poor ones, probably due to a lack of concentration.

"I'm playing with one of the great players in the world in Henrik again tomorrow, so it should be great. I knew I was playing OK and I've really enjoyed the course."

Tough choices

Faldo announces his wild cards after next week's Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, which is also the last event in the qualification race.

The battle for the last three automatic spots on the European team intensified on Saturday with Oliver Wilson making a move up the leaderboard thanks to a bogey-free 66.

The Mansfield golfer, who started the week in the ninth qualification place, sits in a tie for 12th in Holland at five-under-par.

Justin Rose and Soren Hansen, sandwiching Wilson at eighth and 10th respectively, also remain in control of their own destiny.

But Rose was unhappy after slipping back to three-under for the tournament after a one-over third-round effort of 71.

The Englishman flew in from America to play in Holland and had hoped to head straight back across the Atlantic for the second leg of the lucrative FedEx Cup play-offs.

But it is now likely he will have to stay on and play at Gleneagles next week to make absolutely sure of a Ryder Cup debut.

Pathetic

"That was pathetic - just pathetic. A load of old rubbish," said the world number 12 after he three-putted the 18th for his fifth bogey of the day.

Hansen, another who would be making his Ryder Cup bow at Valhalla if he qualifies, is well placed at six-under after a level-par 70.

The Dane overcame a triple-bogey at the par-five second with a superb back nine of 30 that featured three of his four birdies.

German Martin Kaymer started the week a mere £213 behind Hansen in 11th place but had a terrible time on the front nine and looks set to leave himself with much to do at Gleneagles.

Kaymer, last season's European Tour Rookie of the Year and twice a winner in 2008, signed for a four-over 74 and is down in a share of 53rd at two-over.