Howell in command at Wentworth

The rise and rise of David Howell continued today when he stayed on course to become the first English winner of the BMW Championship at Wentworth since Nick Faldo in 1989.

Howell, three clear at halfway after a dazzling 65, kept that advantage with a 69 achieved despite several heavy downpours on an already saturated West Course.

The 30-year-old, who had seen his lead trimmed to one by a superb 65 from Ryder Cup team-mate Miguel Angel Jimenez, birdied both the closing par fives and so goes into the closing 18 holes on the 14 under mark of 202.

Three years ago Howell improved from 74th to 16th on the Order of Merit. The following season he moved up again to 10th and made his Ryder Cup debut.

That was good, but he had not actually won a tournament since 1999 and the main task last year was to put that right.

After losing play-offs in the British Masters and Irish Open in successive weeks and then having two months out with a torn stomach muscle, the former British boys champion broke through in Germany.

It helped him move up again to seventh on the money list, but the best was still to come.

The first event of this season was the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai and Howell not only beat Tiger Woods head-to-head for the title, but left him further behind in the final round.

He has led the Order of Merit ever since and even with taking five weeks off recently with back trouble is still well in front.

Howell could move into the world’s top 10 for the first time in his life if he triumphs and he will certainly clinch his second Ryder Cup cap.

Birdies at the sixth and seventh widened the gap, but as conditions worsened he bogeyed the short 10th and Jimenez put the pressure on.

Out in 31, the 42-year-old added further birdies on the 11th and 16th and even with the rain at its hardest his pitch to the last skidded to a halt just a foot from the flag.

“It rains so little in Malaga that when the clouds are coming I put the clubs away,” he said.

“But I’ve had so many years playing on tour and you have to adapt to playing in all conditions. It wasn’t windy – that’s worse – and it was only raining hard on the last.

“It will be a gentleman’s battle tomorrow. David is a great player, there’s no doubt, and a nice guy. A super guy.”

Joint third are two more English players, Surrey’s Paul Casey and Essex’s Simon Khan. They shot 69 and 70 respectively, with Casey winning his duel with former Walker Cup partner and Ryder Cup team-mate Luke Donald by five.

Donald had a double bogey seven on the long 17th, and so did Liverpudlian Nick Dougherty as he fell from second to joint fifth with a 74.

The 24-year-old had closed to two behind by chipping in at the first, but that was as good as it got for him. Nine under with six to play he bogeyed the 13th and 16th before hooking into the trees on the next and lipping out with his bogey attempt.

Two further back alongside Dougherty are Dubliner Padraig Harrington and France’s Jean Van de Velde. Harrington, a real fan of the changes Ernie Els has made to the course, had a 68, but Van de Velde, only 42nd at halfway, went two better than that.

And he did so after only discovering his tee-off time less than an hour before he had to start.

It was a disappointing day for the other Irish contenders. Graeme McDowell could only manage a one over par 73 to drop back to two under for the tournament. Peter Lawrie is also on two under, after his 74 today.