Niklas Nørgaard matched the low round of the week with a sublime eight under 64 to open a four-stroke lead with one round to play at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo.
Related: Tyrrell Hatton leads by one at British Masters
The Danish 32-year-old was two back on Saturday morning but put on an incredible display to reach 16 under par and four clear of South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, who sits second at The Belfry on 12 under par.
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Nørgaard showed his intention from the off with a birdie at the first, with another following at the par five third after seeing an eagle putt burn the edge. He added a third gain at the par five seventh to make the turn at three under and with the lead.
The 2021 European Challenge Tour graduate pressed down his advantage immediately as he entered the back nine, birdieing the Brabazon’s iconic tenth hole after driving the green before making it back-to-back red numbers with another three at the par four 11th.
The two-time Nordic Golf League winner then reeled off a run of three birdies from the 14th which culminated in a monster 42-foot putt down the slope at the par four 16th.
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He dropped his only shot of the day at next, the par five 17th, after hitting a wayward drive into the trees, but reclaimed that shot in front of a packed 18th hole with a ninth and final birdie to put the finishing touches to a fine round of 64.
Nørgaard’s third round effort earns him the 54-hole lead for the second successive year at the Betfred British Masters after being part of a six-way leading contingent in 2023, but will have to fend off four-time DP World Tour winner Lawrence who is his closest challenger among the chasing pack.
Frenchman Jeong weon Ko is two shots behind Lawrence in third on ten under par, with England’s Andrew Wilson two shots further back after a closing double bogey.
Player quotes
Niklas Nørgaard: We sat there in recording, we just rewatched the whole round but yeah, I made a lot of putts. That’s what I’ve been struggling with a little bit this year, the putting. Driving has been good. Today it just kind of clicked with the putting. It’s just funny how the snowball just rolls after one putt, then the other one feels easier and then the next even easier. Just that kind of day.
I was not looking at the scores at all, but I knew it was not easy. We had a bit of wind today, and I think it’s just I was very, very present as I haven’t been before. I was just in every shot.
Thriston Lawrence: Obviously seeing Niklas making a good charge today, getting to 16-under at one stage, I knew I had to get something going.
Unbelievable finish. Still a couple of shots behind but yeah, in for a shout tomorrow.
I still need to try and be aggressive and I’m quite an aggressive player, and my game plan doesn’t really change whether I’m five ahead or five behind. I must say, I think I ended up more comfortable being a little behind. Still a job to do and I can’t wait for the final round.
Jeong weon Ko: I think it was a bit like the practice rounds where there was a lot of wind, and in opposite direction, so it didn’t quite help us.
It was really tough. The greens are getting firmer and firmer, and the wind was really tricky out here.
I was busy doing my own thing. Tomorrow I’ll do the same thing as well. Do my own thing, and hopefully it’s going to be good.
