• WGC-HSBC Championship, Round Three

Jacobson leads as McIlroy and Scott lurk

Rory McIlroy was in high spirits on day three © Getty Images

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Fredrik Jacobson shot a five-under par round of 67 at the WGC-HSBC Champions on Saturday to give himself a two-shot lead going into the final round of the tournament.

The Swede, who has enjoyed something a renaissance in 2011, gave himself a great opportunity to finish the year in style as he made just one bogey and six birdies at Sheshan International, enough to put him clear of the field at 16-under.

Former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen is his nearest challenger, after the South African followed Friday's 63 with a more reserved round of 68 to stay firmly in contention at 14-under.

The third member of Sunday's final threesome will be Adam Scott, after the Australian managed to ignore the race row currently engulfing his caddie Steve Williams to fire a round of 69 that puts him 13-under.

It was an eventful round on an eventful day for Scott, who refused to comment about Williams' troubles but is expected by some to part company with the New Zealander at the tournament's conclusion. A double-bogey seven after finding water at the par-five eighth was the low point of Scott's round, but he finished with two birdies and an eagle - after spinning his wedge shot approach back into the cup at the 18th - to salvage the round and remain with a great chance of claiming his second WGC win of the year.

Rory McIlroy shot his best round thus far at the tournament in Shanghai with a seven-under 65 on Saturday.

McIlroy got off to a blistering start with four birdies on the front nine before finishing in similar style with birdies on 14, 16 and 18. The 22-year-old ended the third round on 12-under as he continues to chase the leaders. He was later joined at the mark by former ISM stablemate Lee Westwood, who manufactured a solid round of 67 to remain in the hunt.

McIlroy's fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell sits one stroke back after an impressive third round, alongside German Martin Kaymer. England's Robert Rock is a further five strokes back after a bogey on the 15th, followed by a double bogey on the last, spoiled his otherwise solid round of 71.

Home favourite Xin-jun Zhang was the big mover of the day, the world No. 959 carding a remarkable eight-under par 64 to finish the day ten-under for the tournament. Jhonattan Vegas, meanwhile, was unable to match that feat, but did manage to move within striking distance of the leaders with a 65, which included five birdies and an eagle.

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