Owen on course for victory

Ian Poulter will have the chance to pull off an amazing £500,000 double on the European tour on Sunday.

Six days after winning the Wales Open, the 27-year-old from Milton Keynes produced a brilliant course-record-equalling 63 in the third round of the Daily Telegraph Damovo British Masters at the Forest of Arden.

Poulter, who led from start to finish at Celtic Manor, had survived the halfway cut with nothing to spare at level par.

But his 10-birdie display swept him all the way from eight behind to two ahead before he three-putted the final green for his only bogey - and therefore just a share of the record with Colin Montgomerie.

That, however, was before the overnight leaders had even teed off again - and when they did Mansfield's Greg Owen regained top spot with birdies at the seventh, 10th and 12th and then the only eagle of the day on the 516-yard 17th.

By getting up and down from sand at the last Owen, chasing his first victory, returned a 67 - and he will resume four strokes clear of not only Poulter but also Australian left-hander Richard Green.

In April Owen led the Portuguese Open by two with five to play, was still joint leader on the final tee but then bogeyed it and dropped to fifth.

It left him distraught.

"I was absolutely gutted - I've never felt like that before. I didn't want to play and go through that again," he said.

"I should have won it comfortably and (afterwards) I just wanted to spend time with my little girl."

It took a heart-to-heart with coach David Ridley to put him back together, and Owen has now had just one bogey in his last 86 holes - right back to the fourth hole of his third round in the Wales Open last Saturday.

He actually resumed on a bogey-free run of 68 holes. But after that ended with a five at the 364-yard second he did not let it bother him.

"I felt very calm and just want to feel the same tomorrow," he said.

"I've not been making many mistakes and I hope I will hole out as well as I have.

"There's no point plodding around, coming third or fourth. Portugal upset me, and I want to make amends."

One stroke further back in joint third are English pair Matthew Blackey and David Lynn, the former having led by two himself after five birdies in his first seven holes before bogeying three of the next six.

Poulter, who matched the record set by Colin Montgomerie six years ago, reckoned his round was "the best chance I've had of breaking 60".

Out in 30, the England World Cup player birdied three of the next six and then almost eagled the 17th - his 40-foot attempt from the front fringe missing by a fraction.

On the 18th, however, he finished more than 70 feet from the flag, left his putt 18 feet short and missed.

As well as putting him in position for his half-a-million pound jackpot, Poulter also collected £140 from close friend Justin Rose - the player who pushed him into second place in the event at Woburn last year.

A frustrated Rose was also only level par after two rounds, and Poulter told him: "The leaders are only eight in front, and if we shoot really low anything can happen. I think two 65s can win."

That is what the 22-year-old from Hampshire shot to take the title 12 months ago - and he agreed a bet of £50 per eagle, £5 per birdie and £10 for every shot difference. Rose was paying out, however, after a 73 containing only two birdies.

Incredibly, Poulter had missed five out of six cuts before his win. But it was not the crisis it might have seemed, because he has been making swing changes with the help of top coach David Leadbetter.

"I'm surprised it's turned round so quickly. But it's not a massive change - just a few simple moves."

Owen resumed on a run of 68 holes without a bogey - right back to the fourth hole of his third round in the Wales Open.

That went when he took five on the 364-yard second to be three behind Poulter, but his comeback started two holes later.

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