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Thongchai Jaidee leads high-quality chasing pack at BMW Masters

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Highlights from the third round of the BMW Masters

Thongchai Jaidee will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the BMW Masters as just five shots separate the top 15 players in Shanghai.

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BMW Masters

Thongchai Jaidee fired a 66 to earn a one-shot lead after 54 holes
Image: Thongchai Jaidee fired a 66 to earn a one-shot lead after 54 holes

Jaidee bogeyed the final hole to take some of the gloss off an excellent 66 on day three at Lake Malaren, but he will be looking over his shoulder at a number of European heavyweights within touching distance after 54 holes.

Sergio Garcia is tied for second with BMW PGA champion Byeong Hun An, while the likes of Henrik Stenson, Paul Casey, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose all made significant strides up the leaderboard.

Jaidee made five birdies in an outward 3, but he bogeyed 18 for the second day running
Image: Jaidee made five birdies in an outward 31, but he bogeyed 18 for the second day running

Jaidee made five birdies in a superb seven-hole stretch to turn in 31 and he picked up further shots at 12 and 14, but he could not avoid dropping a shot at the last for the second day running as his lead over the field was halved on 15 under.

"Today I hit 15 greens, that was the key," said the former Thai paratrooper. "I played my irons very well, and putted well. Six under is a very good round for me today I think. I have a good chance to win, but the key will be to hit greens and then putting is key. Sunday is a very big day, if I keep performing like this, I have a good chance."

An birdied two of the first three and made four in five holes in a flawless 66 that lifted him into a share of second with Garcia, who was one under for the day after a quiet 12 holes before he suddenly got his putter firing to pick up four shots in five holes.

Sergio Garcia made four late birdies to vault into a share of second
Image: Sergio Garcia made four late birdies to vault into a share of second

Overnight leader Lucas Bjerregaard is also one off the pace after he compiled a solid three-birdie 70, although he did drop only his second shot of the week at the 16th to cost himself a share of the lead.

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Kristoffer Broberg is a further shot off the pace after a remarkable mid-round charge that began with an eagle at the seventh, and the Swede went on to birdie seven of the next nine holes before his run ended with a bogey at 17.

Lucas Bjerregaard remained within a shot of the lead after a quiet third day
Image: Lucas Bjerregaard remained within a shot of the lead after a quiet third day

Broberg's 64 was matched by American Patrick Reed, who made eight birdies in a blemish-free round to get into the clubhouse on 12 under alongside Stenson, who also kept a bogey off his card in a high-quality 65.

Casey and Poulter shot 68s despite both dropping shots after errant drives at the 18th, while fellow Englishman Ross Fisher cruised home in 32 to post a 67 and join the share of sixth.

Henrik Stenson made a significant move and is just three off the lead
Image: Henrik Stenson made a significant move and is just three off the lead

Big-hitting Belgian Thomas Pieters birdied the first four holes and added three over the last four to shoot the round of the day - a 63 lifting him to 11 under alongside Marcus Fraser, who capped a 65 by holing his 231-yard second to the last for an unlikely eagle-two and a stunning back-nine 29.

Rose and British Masters champion Matt Fitzpatrick will look to put early pressure on Jaidee on Sunday after both fired 67s to get to 10 under with Turkish AIrlines Open winner Victor Dubuisson.

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Danny Willett, who needs to finish in the top 28 to knock Rory McIlroy off the top of the Race to Dubai standings, was still not on top of his game although a 70 moved the Sheffield pro to five under - tied for 27th.

But Shane Lowry, currently third in the overall standings, endured another miserable day as he made two double-bogeys in a 74 which left him among the also-rans on three over par.