Campbell grabs lead

New Zealander Michael Campbell closed the two-shot gap between himself and long-time French Open leader John Bickerton to leave the pair locked together at 10 under with seven holes to play of the third round.

Campbell eventually edged ahead of Bickerton - for the first time in the tournament - when he birdied the 585-yard 14th to reach 11 under.

However, Bickerton still had the par five to play.

2005 US Open champion Campbell birdied the second and third holes but that only put him within one of the Englishman, who sank a 12-foot putt at the first to move to 10 under.

Campbell appeared to have handed the initiative back to Bickerton when he drove out of bounds at the 450-yard seventh but he birdied the par-five ninth after reaching in two.

Two more birdies followed in his next two holes; the short 11th saw him drop a curling, 30-foot putt over a ridge

Bickerton, meanwhile, held his nerve to card 10 straight pars after his opening birdie.

Welshman Bradley Dredge and South African Darren Fichardt were tied for third on eight under, with Dane Anders Hansen having posted the clubhouse lead after a five-under-par 66 lifted him to seven under for the tournament.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, who flew into the tournament late having been delayed by the rain-interrupted Booz Allen Classic on the PGA Tour, carded a 69 for a five-under-par total.

However, the Ryder Cup star feels he is too far behind to make a challenge tomorrow on a Le Golf National course he admits does not suit his game.

“I could have done with being maybe a couple better. I’m well in the tournament for the other positions but not maybe necessarily for winning,” he said.