McDowell in startling start

Graeme McDowell today made a spectacular start to his third round in the Deutsche Bank Players’ Championship.

Eight shots off the lead overnight after rounds of 68 and 70 in Hamburg, McDowell picked up five shots in the space of four holes at Gut Kaden this morning.

The Ulsterman, who led after the first round of the Open at Hoylake last week before fading to 61st, opened with two pars but then eagled the par-five third.

The 26-year-old from Portrush – who celebrates his 27th birthday tomorrow - then birdied the fourth, parred the fifth and eagled the par-five sixth to make it five threes in a row.

At 11 under, he was now just three off the lead held by Sweden’s Robert Karlsson who was not due to tee off until shortly before 1pm local time.

Karlsson holds a one-shot lead over Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam, Lee Westwood and Gary Orr.

McDowell's charge was halted by a run of pars which took him to the turn in 31.

The former Walker Cup player was joined on 11 under by Hartlepool’s Graeme Storm, the former Amateur champion picking up three birdies in his first four holes.

Argentina’s Andres Romero was also continuing his superb recent form. Romero, who qualified for the Open with second place in the Scottish Open and then finished eighth at Hoylake, had also birdied three of the first four to move to 12 under.

McDowell did pick up further birdies at the 11th and 15th but at 13 under was still two off the lead as the low scoring continued.

Romero had gone to the turn in 31 and birdied the 10th as well to move into a share of the lead on 15 under alongside Karlsson – who had birdied the second - and Gary Orr.

Westwood and Woosnam were a shot behind on 14 under after birdies at the third and second respectively.