Jamie Donaldson will take a slender one-shot lead into the European Masters final round, knowing he has to beat two of the world’s best to clinch his maiden title.
A third round six-under 65 on Saturday hauled the 35-year-old Briton to 14-under 199, a stroke better than Lee Westwood and two shots better than Rory McIlroy.
Donaldson will play alongside world No. 2 Westwood and US Open champion McIlroy, ranked No. 6, as he bids to claim a victory after numerous chances since joining the European Tour 10 years ago.
Photo: Reuters
“I’m going to be the underdog,” Donaldson admitted to reporters after four birdies in the last six holes edged him to the summit in the Alps. “I’m playing with two of the greatest players in the world at the moment. It’s awesome, but I know them both well so I won’t let that pressurize me.”
Westwood had plenty on his mind, but produced his best performance of the week by far, a run of four birdies to the turn carrying him up the leaderboard with a 64.
“I’ve got a really bad head-cold that affects my balance when putting, but it didn’t seem to stop me playing the best I have all week,” Westwood said. “I’ve finally got rid of the rust of only playing six holes of golf coming here, in two weeks.”
McIlroy looked as though he would be at least level with Donaldson, but bogeyed the 16th and 17th holes for a 67.
The Northern Irishman plundered another eagle-two to lead the field early on, this time sinking a 50-foot putt from off the green at the seventh.
“I feel as though I should be leading by quite a bit,” the 2008 runner-up in the event said. “I have a 61 or 62 in me the way I’m playing.”
Last week’s Gleneagles winner, Thomas Bjorn, and Briton Gary Boyd are in fourth place on 11-under. McIlroy’s world rankings rival Martin Kaymer is a further stroke back after another unfulfilling day.
Both can go to world No. 3 with victory and last year’s USPGA champion and former world No. 1 Kaymer said he hoped the final round would be his day.
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