Nedbank Challenge: Back nine a bit of a struggle, admits leader Luke Donald

Luke Donald admits he struggled over the back nine of his third round in Sun City where he will take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Nedbank Challenge.

Donald, who will celebrate his 37th birthday on Sunday, carded a three-under-par 69 in round three to edge ahead of Danny Willett, whose 65 was the lowest round of the day by three shots.

Live Nedbank Golf Challenge

After 43 successive holes without a bogey, Donald dropped a shot at the par-four 13th before suffering another one four holes later.

And if he had not produced a stunning birdie at the par-four, 502-yard final hole, the Hertfordshire-born player would have been tied for the lead having led by two shots at the start of the day.

He said: "It was a little bit of hard work on the back nine. I didn't hit the fairway enough which I did well yesterday.

"The pins were a little tighter today and from the rough it was hard to be aggressive.      

"It's a dangerous course. On every hole there is something lurking out there and you have to be on your game and patient.           

"It was nice to get a birdie at the last and it will make dinner taste a bit better this evening. It'll also be fun to play the final round with my fellow Englishmen."

Ross Fisher is the only other player within eight shots of Donald going into the final round at Gary Player Country Club.

Watch the final round live on Sky Sports 4 HD from 8am on Sunday.