Green holds onto KLM Open lead

Australian Richard Green did exactly what was required of him to hold on to his lead going into the final day of the KLM Open in Holland but Ireland's Paul McGinley enjoyed another producitve day.

The Melbourne-based player carded three birdies in an unspectacular third round 67 which put him three clear of Englishman David Lynn at 15 under.

It leaves him on course to win only his second European Tour title and first since the 1997 Dubai Desert Classic.

He revealed afterwards he had taken his inspiration for today from Colin Montgomerie.

“Players like Monty don’t retreat, they are solid under pressure and don’t try too hard to force things and wait for the birdies to come along,” said the tall left-hander.

“It would be a huge weight off my shoulders to win. I took me a while to get that will to win back [after Dubai] and I’ve just got to make sure it does not get in the way tomorrow,” added the 33-year-old, who had back-to-back second places in the French and European Opens earlier this season.

Green, who began the day three ahead of Andrew Raitt, was consistency personified in the opening 11 holes – all played to par as he watched most of his rivals struggle to make a dent on his advantage.

His first birdie came at the 486-yard 12th when he rolled a 35-foot eagle putt right up to the rim of the hole.

On the very next hole he chipped in from the fringe of the short par three to go to 14 under and then on the last he left his 25ft eagle put a little short but tapped in for birdie.

Ryder Cup hopefuls Ian Poulter and Paul McGinley had differing fortunes with respective scores of 71 and 68.

Poulter scrambled for most of his round, scoring four on each hole of the front nine, which unfortunately for him meant a bogey at the par-three fifth.

The impact of two further bogeys on the back nine were lessened by birdies at 12 and 18 but his ambitions of winning the tournament have evaporated at five under.

McGinley, on the other hand, is in with an outside chance after his two-under-par round moved him into joint third.

Even if he does not win tomorrow, there are 133,350 Ryder Cup points available for second place and 75,120 for third.

“For 15 holes I played really well and for three holes I didn’t and I paid the penalty on those holes but overall two under par [for the round] isn’t a bad score,” he said

“I can’t influence what other guys do but I’m playing as hard as I can and tomorrow there is certainly a really low score in me.

“I’ve put myself in position – OK I’m a long way behind the leader but he’s obviously on a hot week – but I’ll go out tomorrow and try to shoot as low as I can and see what happens after that.

“If I shoot a really low score then that will ask the question.”

Elsewhere Ireland's Damien McGrane lies tied for 11th on four under after a 67 today while Graeme McDowell is one shot further back on three under after a 71 today.

Peter Lawrie is 47th on level par.