WGC-HSBC: Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell remained the man to catch in China

Graeme McDowell remained the man to catch at the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament after three rounds, but he had his lead trimmed to one shot going into the final day in Shanghai.

McDowell began the third round at Sheshan International with a three-shot lead over Ryder Cup team-mate Ian Poulter and four clear of Masters champion Bubba Watson, but he saw the American cut the deficit in half with three birdies in the first eight holes.

Watson picked up shots on the second and third and then almost holed his approach to the 603-yard eighth hole for an albatross, but missed the eagle putt from five feet and had to settle for a birdie.

With the Northern Irishman following birdies at the fourth and seventh with a bogey on the eighth, it looked like the pressure might finally be beginning to tell on one of Europe's Ryder Cup stars, who had led since an opening 67 and fired another 67 on Friday.

However, it was Watson who made a vital mistake on the 10th when his simple approach to the green plugged in a bunker, from where he could only blast out to 40 feet and three-putt for a double bogey.

And to make matters worse for the left-hander, playing partner McDowell holed from 30 feet for birdie.

McDowell parred his way home from there, apart from a loose bogey on 17, to sign for a third round 71 and 11-under-par total.

It saw the former US Open champion’s advantage reduced by Japanese World Golf Championships' debutant Hiroshi Iwata (68).

McDowell lay one shot ahead of Iwata, who birdied the last from 20 feet, with Germany's current US Open champion Martin Kaymer (66) and Watson (69) tied for third on nine under.

“I played reasonably solid today,” said McDowell, after carding three birdies and two bogeys in all. “I thought conditions were a little bit more difficult, colder, obviously a little bit of overnight rain made the golf course play a little bit longer. 

“I was generally happy with the way I hit the golf ball. I didn't quite score as well as I did the last couple days but I gave myself some confidence from a ball-striking point of view that I can get the job done tomorrow.

“Let's be honest, I had a three shot lead overnight and it's only one now, but I'll take this position any week that you offer it to me, a one shot lead going into the last round, on a golf course that I enjoy; I’m looking forward to the opportunity tomorrow. 

“I felt maybe a tiny bit negative coming in, but when I went back and thought through my round, it was difficult.”

Watch the denouement of the WGC-HSBC Champions only on Sky Sports 4HD from 3am Sunday morning.