Goosen remains three shots clear

Retief Goosen led for a third day in the Lancome Trophy but the South African had his advantage cut to three strokes on Saturday after a closing bogey meant a three-under-par 68 for an overall 17-under 196.

Ireland's Paul McGinley, the player who holed Europe's Ryder Cup winning putt last year, is now Goosen's nearest challenger after shooting a 66.

Nicolas Colsaerts, Goosen's third round playing-partner, kept in touch with a 68 that left him four strokes off the lead.

The 20-year-old Belgian is a shot better than England's double winner this year, Ian Poulter, who posted 65, the best round of the day.

Goosen's finale repeated his feat of the first round when he dropped a shot at the last and the European number one for the last two years is aware of his frailty over the closing holes.

In 2001, the year he won the U.S. Open, Goosen squandered a four-shot lead in the Lancome Trophy with four holes to go and let in Spain's Sergio Garcia for victory.

"It was disappointing to finish that way today because I'd had some good up-and-downs to save par on a day when my driving was poor," said Goosen, who missed the green on the par-three finish and failed to save from four feet.

"I'll try not to think about what happened two years ago. Sergio birdied three of the last four holes and I bogeyed two of them. These things happen."

Goosen needs to win the $300,000 first prize if he is to keep alive his slim chance of catching Ernie Els on Europe's money list and win the order of merit for a third successive year.

McGinley seems inspired by the start of a new Ryder Cup campaign and the Irishman could capture a rich haul of points for the European table if he keeps up the form that earned him six birdies with only one dropped shot.

Colsaerts is looking for his maiden full tour title, while Poulter looks to add to his Wales Open and Nordic Open successes this year to keep his England World Cup hopes alive.

The Englishman, who suffered recurring tonsilitis when he won in Wales, has scheduled a tonsilectomy for November 11 but will postpone the operation if he can edge into England's team.

Colin Montgomerie said he might abandon the belly putter in preference to a normal short version after another poor putting display left him 14 strokes off the lead.

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