David Duval favourite into final round

American David Duval, spurred on by four birdies in five holes round the turn, moved into a brief share of the British Open third-round lead on Saturday before slipping back to six-under-par.

Duval, level for the tournament at the halfway stage after scores of 69 and 73, fired a 65 to match the low round of the week.

He collected seven birdies and a solitary bogey to finish at six-under 207 in a share of second place.

The Florida-based professional said his putting had been a key factor over the past three days, adding that he was pleased to be in last-day contention for the third successive major.

"It's hard to say what going to happen and it might require another 65 from me again tomorrow," he said. "But I've got myself back into it and that's where I wanted to be. I feel like I've been there and proven I can play under those conditions. I just know I have it in me."

Duval joined overnight leader Colin Montgomerie at seven under par when he birdied the par-four 14th to pick up his seventh shot of the day.

The former world number one fell back, though, with a bogey-five at the difficult par-four 15th after finding the rough off the tee and also with his second shot.

"I thought my second out of the rough would come out hot but it came out dead and I finished up 30 yards short," he said.

He had to produce a deft chip from a tricky lie behind the green to save his par at the 467-yard 17th and then parred the last to stay in touch with the lead.

The American's 65 over the par-71 Lytham course matched Montgomerie's opening round on Thursday and Irishman Des Smyth's score on Friday.

"I feel I'm playing pretty well and it's just a matter of everything going right for me," Duval said. "I knew I had to hit it better to have a chance and today I finally hit the ball well.

"I haven't been hitting it well the past two days and I would have missed the cut if I hadn't putted well."

Duval, who also produced superb iron play for most of the day, got off to a good start on Saturday when he birdied the par-four second.

He then birdied seven and eight to turn in 33 and picked up further shots at 10 and 11 to close to within two shots of Montgomerie's championship lead.

A brilliant approach to two feet at the par-four 13th gave Duval his sixth birdie of the day and another inch-perfect second to five feet at the 445-yard 14th drew the American level at seven-under.

Duval carded a 66 in the third round of the British Open at St Andrews last year to move into second place behind eventual winner Tiger Woods.

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