Fisher nets three-shot lead

Fisher: closing birdie

European Open
Third round leaders
GB&Ire unless stated
-16 R Fisher
-13 G McDowell
-10 D Frost (SA)
-8 S Hansen (Den)
-8 M Jonzon (Swe)
-8 P McGinley

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Ross Fisher will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the European Open after storming clear of Graeme McDowell over the last three holes.

The pair were locked together on 15-under-par and well clear of the chasing pack after both rolled in eagle putts from around 20 feet on 15.

But Northern Ireland's McDowell immediately dropped a shot at 16 to restore Fisher's one-shot halfway lead, then drove into the water at 18.

That led to a bogey and Fisher's birdie - the only one of the day at 18 - gave the 27-year-old from Essex a three-shot lead.

"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," said Fisher. "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."

From the perfect position on the fairway, Fisher fired a 151-yard nine-iron approach to eight feet and rolled in the putt.

Broken 70

Fisher's 69 means he is the only man to have broken 70 in all three rounds, while McDowell's poor finish meant he had to settle for a third-round 71.

Veteran South African David Frost is six shots off the pace in third place after dropping his only shot of the day at 18 on his way to a 69.

Joint fourth on eight under are Ireland's Paul McGinley, Dane Soren Hansen and Swede Michael Jonzon.

Sergio Garcia, favourite for the title when he played the first six holes in one under, came home in 39 to be in a tie for seventh. That included a double bogey six on the 13th when he was put off by a photographer on the tee and shanked into knee-high rough.

Scotland's Colin Montgomerie closed his round with three bogeys, the defending champion dropping out of contention after a 73 and finishing on six-under.

England's Ian Poulter also struggled, dropping five shots in his first seven holes on his way to a 77.

Eventful

Open champion Padraig Harrington, having made the cut with only a shot to spare, improved from 33rd to 14th with an eventful 69.

Out in 31 and on the leaderboard at one point, he bogeyed three of the next five, had a second eagle of the day on the 548-yard 15th, but then drove into the lake at the last for a closing bogey.

Justin Rose, last season's European number one, is left with only a confidence-building exercise in the last round after slumping to joint 60th of the 70 players with a 77.

That was completed by a triple bogey seven on the last after he drove into the water on the left and fluffed a chip into the bunker short of the green.