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Denmark’s Niklas Norgaard will take a four-shot lead into the final round of the British Masters after Tyrrell Hatton crashed out of contention.
Hatton began the day with a one-shot lead but ended it 10 adrift following a miserable 76 at The Belfry, where Norgaard carded nine birdies in a brilliant 64, just one off the course record.
Norgaard looked set to enjoy an even bigger lead when he followed a front nine of 33 with birdies at the 10th, 11th, 14th, 15th and 16th to move six shots clear, only to bogey the par-five 17th.
That allowed Thriston Lawrence, who finished fourth in the Open at Royal Troon, to close within three as he birdied the last four holes in a 67, but Norgaard responded superbly to also birdie the 18th and finish 16 under par.
“I was not looking at the scores at all, but I knew it was not easy,” said Norgaard, who was part of a six-way tie for the lead after 54 holes last year before finishing seventh.
“We had a bit of wind today and I think it’s just because I was very, very present as I haven’t been before. I was just in every shot.
“The bogey on 17 was stupid but that took a little bit of pressure off hole 18, just calmed me down a little bit because that’s a pretty tough tee shot. But I felt pretty calm out there and we had a good time, my caddie and I.
“I think I just really had the belief after seeing the putts go in and on the final one, I had no doubt I was going to make that one. So that was very nice.
“I think last year my best finish was the seventh place here and now this year I’ve been knocking a bit more on the door. I have a second and a fourth.
I'm just going to go at it again tomorrow— Niklas Norgaard
“I’ve obviously never had a four-shot lead before. I think the time between now and tomorrow just has to go and then I just want to be on the golf course again.
“This course really suits my eye. I feel comfortable out here and it’s the tournament I look forward to every year.
“It would mean so much (to win). The thing I just have to do is try to go and do the same as today. Not trying to hold anything or being protective. I’m just going to go at it again tomorrow.”
Lawrence’s rollercoaster round included nine birdies, a double bogey and two bogeys, with his final birdie coming from tap-in range following a stunning approach to the 18th.
“Obviously seeing Niklas making a good charge today, getting to 16 under at one stage, I knew I had to get something going and it was an unbelievable finish,” Lawrence said.
“Still a couple of shots behind but yeah, in for a shout tomorrow. I still need to try and be aggressive and my game plan doesn’t really change, whether I’m five ahead or five behind.”
Hatton cancelled out a bogey on the first with a birdie on the par-five third, but dropped shots on the sixth and ninth and had to scramble for a par on the famous 10th after pulling his drive into a bush.
Playing on the DP World Tour after appealing against the sanctions imposed on him for playing LIV Golf events without permission, Hatton also did well to drop just one shot after a tee shot into the water on the 12th, but pulled his drive on the next out of bounds and ran up a triple-bogey seven.
