Ignacio Garrido holds on to a three shot lead

Ignacio Garrido, without a victory since the 2003 PGA Championship at Wentworth, will take a three-shot lead over fellow countryman Miguel Angel Jimenez into the Spanish Open final round.

Spaniard Garrido’s level-par 72 on Saturday gave him a 15-under 201 aggregate while Jimenez surged into contention with a 67 at the Real Club.

Paraguayan outsider Marco Ruiz (69), experienced Dane Soren Hansen (67) and Britain’s Mark Foster (68) were a further stroke back on 205.

Sunday could develop into a shootout between the two former Ryder Cup Spaniards, who will play together in the last group, but Garrido said he was not looking at it as a head-to-head battle for the title.

“This is not tennis and it’s not me against Miguel Angel,” Garrido told Reuters. “He’s a great friend and the local favourite so it will be good for the crowd but really it is us against the course.

“I was happy with the way I battled today. I didn’t take my chances on the front nine and lost concentration a couple of times on the back nine.”

It appeared Garrido would keep the four-shot advantage earned with a course record 63 in the second round. He spoiled his day though by missing a three-foot putt for par at the last.

“I was a bit tense with my second putt on the last and paid for it,” said the 36-year-old from Madrid, who went into this tournament having missed six out of seven cuts.

After his spectacular display on Friday, Garrido was far more sedate on Saturday as he mixed two birdies with two bogeys.

Jimenez was in dazzling form on the greens, taking only 28 putts.

“I putted well, especially to save par on the last two holes, which was very important,” he said.

“I am playing well tee to green. Ignacio is playing well too so tomorrow is going to be interesting but it’s not just between the two of us.”

Jimenez, who claimed his 14th European Tour win at the Hong Kong Open in November and finished eighth at last month’s U.S. Masters, will prove a tough opponent for Garrido.

The 44-year-old from Malaga also has four previous victories to his name in Spain.

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