Fichardt and Broadhurt top leaderboard

Swede Johan Edfors could have lost the chance of winning the Madrid Open and of keeping his tour card after a spectator was suspected of stealing his ball on the final hole on Saturday.

Edfors was sharing the third-round lead with South African Darren Fichardt and Britain's Paul Broadhurst at Club de Campo when he launched his drive into trees on the left of the fairway.

Despite an intense search, and an appeal in English and Spanish by European Tour referee Andy McFee, no one came forward with the ball.

The Swede was forced to return to the 18th tee and ended up with a double-bogey for a 69, slipping back to seventh equal, two strokes behind joint leaders Fichardt and Broadhurst.

The pair were on a 13-under-par total of 200, a stroke ahead of their four nearest rivals.

"It was not a nice way to finish," said a stoic but clearly upset Edfors, who needs to finish at least second to keep his card for next year.

"It's impossible to lose your ball there.

"It could be quite expensive and I would have paid a lot for that ball."

His playing partner, Graeme McDowell of Britain, had to wait to hole a six-footer which drew him to within a stroke of the lead. He said of the incident: "I feel pretty sick for him. Someone's got that ball in their pocket.

"Johan needed an unbelievable week and he was having it. He's playing good enough to come back and do the business."

Broadhurst, the overnight leader and who had to play through the penultimate group on his way to a 68, said: "It could be career-breaking for him.

"There should be a rule that could make allowance for something like this."

In the 1992 Spanish Open, Briton Andrew Sherborne had a ball stolen on the fairway at nearby RACE club on the final day but a marshal witnessed the incident and Sherborne was allowed to play from the point where the ball was taken. He went on to win the event.

Broadhurst, seeking a fifth title nine years after his last success, made an impossible-looking 15ft birdie putt on the 17th to protect his lead.

"It looked to be going so far right but somehow the hole seemed to come to it!" added the 39-year-old.

Fichardt, seeking a third title, also birdied the 17th, but from four feet. That made up for a three-putt on the last the previous day which had deprived him of the joint lead.

Two more players embroiled in the final race for cards for next year, Spain's Ivo Giner and South African Richard Sterne, were also in the group a stroke off the lead.

Like Edfors, Giner needs to finish at least second but a top-20 finish could seal Sterne's card.

Britain's Jamie Spence was also looking well-placed to keep his card after a 69 left him six strokes off the lead but comfortably placed to move to safety on Sunday.

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