Trio tie for lead into last round

Former U.S. PGA champion Jeff Sluman birdied two of the last four holes to force his way into a three-way tie for the lead after the third round of the Scandinavian Masters on Saturday.

The 44-year-old Sluman, who won the 1988 U.S. PGA championship at Oak Tree and triumphed at the U.S. Tour's Greater Milwaukee Open three weeks ago, carded a six-under-par 65 to finish one shot clear at 10-under 203.

Level with the American at the top of the leaderboard were 23-year-old Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell, who returned a 66, and Swedish Ryder Cup player Niclas Fasth, who also fired a 65.

"I would love to win here, especially as I've fallen in love with Sweden," said Sluman, who is 26th on this season's U.S. Tour money list.

"I've stayed competitive and passionate about trying to win."

McDowell, whose game has benefited since he began using a putter given to him last week by his idol and compatriot Darren Clarke, would have led on his own but for a bogey-five at the last.

A mix of four birdies and an eagle-three at the fifth had returned him to the top of the leaderboard he had headed after firing a course-record 64 in Thursday's first round.

Fasth, delighted to be in good form before his Ryder Cup debut at The Belfry next month, picked up four shots in the last five holes to move into contention for a second European Tour title following his victory at the 2000 Madeira Island Open.

The leading trio are a stroke ahead of South African Trevor Immelman, who birdied two of the last three holes for a 67 to move to nine-under-par 204.

Overnight leader Warren Bennett of England, who carded a 69, is a stroke further back in a four-way tie for fifth -- level with Swedes Carl Pettersson (68) and Fredrik Andersson (68) and Norway's Henrik Bjornstad (66).

Another Swede, Per-Ulrik Johansson, is two shots back at six-under 207 after breaking McDowell's record with a 63 just one week after his marriage in Stockholm to Jesper Parnevik's sister Jill.

Joint-leader Sluman, who attended the wedding, had asked for an invitation to compete in his first European Tour event outside the four majors and the World Match Play.

Now the American is well-placed to give himself a further boost in a season where he has already won more than $1.2 million, and has his sights set on this month's U.S. PGA Championship at Hazeltine in Minnesota.

"If you don't think you can win, then you shouldn't turn up and that's how I feel about the PGA in a couple of weeks," he said.

"You can't rest on your laurels. I believe I can win at Hazeltine if I keep the ball on the fairway and hit greens."

McDowell is just starting out on his own career and he would become the second fastest winner on the European Tour if he clinches the title on Sunday in his fourth event as a professional.

Only Australia's Greg Norman's has bettered that, winning his first title in his third start, while Spaniard Sergio Garcia triumphed on his sixth start in Europe as a pro in 1999.

After slipping back in the second round with a two-over-par 73, McDowell stormed back into contention on day three by changing his mental approach.

"The second round was pretty tough for me," said the Ulsterman. "I was not in the right frame of mind, too protective.

"Today I was in a much more relaxed frame of mind and the birdies came along."

Fasth reeled off two eagles -- at the par-five fifth and 17th -- to give himself a good chance to win his first European title at home as well as boosting his confidence for next month's showdown with the United States at The Belfry.

"The Ryder Cup will be tough for all the rookies, so it will help to have confidence from playing well," said the 30-year-old Swede.

"I've actually played well most of the year and now I just want to end the frustration of not winning."

Parnevik boosted his own chances of a second Scandinavian title after birdies at the last three holes lifted him to a 68 to lie five shots off the lead.

But seven-times European number one Colin Montgomerie conceded his own bid for a fourth win in the event after splashing into trouble at the par-three 16th.

The Scot ran up a triple-bogey at that hole on his way to a three-over-par 74 to end his chances of retaining the title he won in Malmo last year.

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