• Nordea Masters, Round Three

Westwood three clear as Fisher makes a move

Ross Fisher eyes a close approach shot © Getty Images

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• News: Round Two: Westwood's 64 puts him clear
  
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Lee Westwood is on course for a confidence-boosting triumph a week out from the US Open after he ended round three of the Nordea Masters with a three-shot lead.

Westwood, who carded a magnificent 64 on Thursday, was less spectacular 24 hours later but nevertheless showed the type of consistency that he will need if he is to win a maiden major title next week.

Signing for a 68 to move to a score of 16-under for the tournament, Westwood produced a strong performance on the back nine to keep the rest of the field at arm's length. Reaching the turn at one-under for the day, he found three consecutive birdies starting at 11 as his putter once again held up to scrutiny.

"I played well, hit a lot of good shots and it was some solid stuff," Westwood told Sky Sports. "I didn't really get into too much trouble. I got a bit of a flier on the second and that was the only bogey I made all day.

"I did misread a couple of putts on the front nine, the one on five and the one on eight, but other than that I putted well. I've read the greens well this week and rolled in a couple of nice ones on the back nine."

Westwood's nearest challenge will come from Ross Fisher, after the Englishman fired an impressive round of 65 to move him to 13-under for the tournament. Fisher has three strokes to make up on the leader but he has given himself a second chance of contending in as many weeks.

The Brit's chances of winning last week's Wales Open were scuppered after he received a penalty for slow play, but he now has the opportunity to make up for that error in Saturday's final round at Bro Hof Slott.

Fisher opened with three birdies on the front nine to immediately make an impression on the scoreboard, before adding four more on the back nine to position himself as the closest challenger to Westwood. Peter Hanson is a stroke further back after he posted a 69.

Fisher's compatriot Richard Bland sits on 11-under following a round of 68 and will look for a strong final 18 holes after an underwhelming 2012 campaign to date.

Defending champion Alex Noren is on the fringes of contention at 10-under, following a second successive 66. The Swede ran away with the tournament in treacherous conditions last year, but an opening round of 74 this time may have just left him with too much work to do to overhaul Westwood.

Behind Noren a gaggle of players are congregated at nine-under - including Jeev Milkha Singh and Gregory Havret.

Sergio Garcia, meanwhile, is on eight-under after a disappointing third round of 70.

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