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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 was knocked out of contention.
Hatton started the day with a one-shot lead but finished 10 shots behind after a miserable 76 at the Belfry, where Norgaard made nine birdies in a brilliant 64, just one shot off the course record.
Norgaard looked set to extend his lead even further when he followed a front nine of 33 with birdies at the 10th, 11th, 14th, 15th and 16th to take a six-shot lead, only to bogey the par-five 17th.
That allowed Thriston Lawrence, who finished fourth in the Open at Royal Troon, to move to within three holes by birdieing the last four holes with a 67, but Norgaard responded superbly by also birdieing the 18th and finishing 16 under par.
“I wasn’t looking at the scores at all, but I knew it wasn’t 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 little bit of wind today and I think it was just because I was very, very present like I’ve never been before. I was just in every shot.
“The bogey on 17 was stupid, but it took a little bit of pressure off 18, it calmed me down a little bit because it’s a pretty tough tee shot. But I felt pretty calm on the course and we had a good time, my caddie and I.
“I think I really had that belief after seeing the putts go in and on the last one, I had no doubt I was going to make that one. So it was really nice.
“I think last year my best result was seventh here and now this year I’m knocking on the door a little bit more. I have a second and a fourth place.
“I’ve never had a four-shot lead before. I think the time between now and tomorrow has to be over and I just want to get back out there.
“This course suits me perfectly. I feel good here and it’s the tournament I look forward to every year.
“It would mean so much (to win). What I have to do is try to do the same thing I did today. I’m not trying to hold back or be protective. I’m just going to start again tomorrow.”
Lawrence’s roller-coaster round included nine birdies, a double bogey and two bogeys, with his final birdie coming on a tap-in after a stunning approach to the 18th.
“Obviously seeing Niklas make a good attack today, reaching 16 under at one point, I knew I had to do something and it was an incredible finish,” Lawrence said.
“I’m still a few shots behind, but yeah, I’ll be able to fight tomorrow. I still have to try to be aggressive and my game plan doesn’t really change whether I’m five shots ahead or five shots behind.”
Hatton cancelled out a bogey on the opening hole with a birdie on the par-five third hole, but dropped shots on the sixth and ninth holes and had to fight for par on the famous 10th hole after hitting his drive into a bush.
Playing on the DP World Tour after appealing sanctions imposed on him for playing LIV Golf events without permission, Hatton also did well to drop just one shot after teeing off in the water on the 12th, but misfired his drive on the next one out of bounds and ran a triple bogey seven.
