• Andalucia Valderrama Masters, Round Three

McDowell tied at the top after disastrous finish

Graeme McDowell picked up a double bogey at 18 © Getty Images

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Graeme McDowell enters the final day of the Andalucia Valderrama Masters in a share of the lead with fellow Ulsterman Gareth Maybin after throwing away a two-shot advantage at the 18th.

After a turbulent day - two bogeys, one double bogey - McDowell appeared to have put his difficulties behind him when he reached the final tee on a run of three birdies from his previous five holes.

But that impression proved misleading as McDowell, whose tee shot wasn't disastrous, sent the ball into a greenside bunker with his approach. His attempt at an escape left him in the thick rough just off the putting surface, from where he chipped well past the hole. Two swings of the putter later, his lead was gone.

Nonetheless, McDowell remains in a strong position to take a significant cut into Martin Kaymer's €1 million lead at the top of the Race to Dubai standings. He closed alongside Maybin at six-under - four strokes clear of Damien McGrane in third - and is on the verge of a third win of a glorious season.

For the first time in the tournament, Kaymer resembled his usual self - but his efforts have come too late for him to wrestle the world No. 1 spot from Tiger Woods. He finds himself at three-over after 54 holes, and with no chance of securing the top-two finish needed to stop Lee Westwood assuming the top rank.

Kaymer, whose 70 was his best round so far, played steadily through 14 holes - picking up two birdies - before crumbling at the last by recording two bogeys at 15 and 18.

Elsewhere, Sergio Garcia found cause for renewed optimism by posting an encouraging 69 that takes him to one-under. The Spaniard missed the cut last week in his first appearance for two months, but he is now on the verge of recording only his second top-ten of a testing year.

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