Noren on course for British Masters win

European Tour

Alex Noren will take a valuable three-shot lead into the final round of the British Masters at The Grove.

The Swede holed a monster putt on the 18th green on the way to a scintillating six-under-par 65 on Saturday, taking his total to an impressive 16 under par.

He lies three shots clear of England's Richard Bland, who relinquished his overnight lead after a 69, and a further stroke clear of four others – Tommy Fleetwood, Richard Sterne, Bernd Wiesberger and Peter Hanson.

At 11 under, the likes of Marcel Siem and Lee Westwood have a lot of work to do if they're to catch the leader on the final day.

Andrew 'Beef' Johnston, meanwhile, started the day in second place but well off the pace after a disappointing 73.

There were no such problems for Noren, however, who was tied with Beef overnight but hit the front thanks to a bogey-free round that featured birdies on the second, sixth, 10th, 15th, 17th and 18th.

His 45-footer for birdie from a difficult position on the final hole capped a memorable day.

"Obviously on 18, it was an amazing feeling because I thought it was a tough putt, and you can easily three-putt that and come off with a sour taste in your mouth," he said.

"Now it feels great. I've three-putted those a lot of times, so sometimes you've got to get lucky.

"I know from experience that it's not that easy to hold leads. Anybody can come from behind and shoot eight under. You never know. 

"I'm just trying to work on the things I work on with my coach and with my caddie and if I manage to pull it off, I do, but otherwise, you know, you go on."

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