Filed under: Golf
Jamie Donaldson will have to hold off the daunting challenge of Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy to put an end to his long wait for European Tour success.The Welshman is participating in his 237th tour event at the Omega European Masters - a stretch which began over a decade ago and he is yet to emerge a winner.
But his superb third round 65 has given him a one-shot lead to take into the final day - but he will have Ryder Cup stars Westwood and McIlroy breathing down his neck.
Westwood shot the low score of the day with a 64 and McIlroy would have been joint leader, but for two bogey's in his final three holes.
Donaldson grabbed four birdies in his last six holes and a 14 under par total of 199 and he is relishing the chance to end his long wait for a title.
"It will be awesome going up against two of the best players in the world at the moment," said Donaldson.
Donaldson is poised to move back into the world's top 100 after nine top-ten finishes last season.
But he will do well to hold off the challenge of Westwood, who defied a head cold picked up on his return from holiday in Barbados.
"It's affecting my balance a bit. I played only six holes the last two weeks, which is not really the right preparation," said Westwood.
"But at some point in the year you have to take a break and recharge your batteries.
"It was nice not to have any fives on the card and no bogeys, especially on this course because it can trip you up."
The Englishman tore up the front nine in 31 shots and then birdied 14 and 15 to complete a bogey-free day.
McIlroy had surged lead with an eagle-two at the seventh, but a poor finish leaves him two shots behind.
"It was not the greatest way to finish," he said after three-putting the 16th and then going over the green from a fairway bunker at the 17th - after taking an iron off the tee for safety.
"I'm still in there with a chance and I'll be looking for a fast start and putting a bit of pressure on the boys. I feel the way my game is there's a 61 or 62 out there," said McIlroy.
Last week's Johnnie Walker Championship winner Thomas Björn and England's Gary Boyd are only three behind.
First-round leader Nick Dougherty, whose 63 set him up to make his first cut in 22 starts going back to last November, fell from one behind to 25th on six under with a second successive 72.
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