Kaymer closing in on Munich title

Rising German star Martin Kaymer is poised for his second win of the year – and a probable leap to sixth on the Ryder Cup table.

Last season’s European Tour Rookie of the Year, who will be making his Open Championship debut at Royal Birkdale in a month’s time, goes into the final round of the BMW International Open in Munich with a six-stroke lead.

The 23-year-old from Dusseldorf, who opened a five-shot advantage with his Friday 63, thrilled his home crowd again with a bogey-free 67.

Kaymer, who showed in the Middle East in January he could win from the front, is now 18 under par, with South African Charl Schwartzel his closest challenger.

Joint third, one further back, are English trio Paul Casey, Ross Fisher and Benn Barham and Frenchman Thomas Levet.

Kaymer had his overnight advantage cut to two by the time he teed off again in the glorious sunshine, but after birdies on the sixth, eighth and ninth – he pitched to within inches of the hole there – he was back firmly in the driving seat.

A chip-and-putt four on the long 11th widened the gap still further and the “old head on young shoulders”, which Bernhard Langer talked about after being so impressed on the first two days, put the icing on the cake with a closing 25-footer.

Kaymer currently lies 10th in the Ryder Cup race, but can go move ahead of Oliver Wilson, Henrik Stenson, Nick Dougherty and Graeme McDowell.

Wilson and Dougherty are on a week off, McDowell missed the cut and Stenson managed only a 72 today to remain seven under.

Langer, whose first cap in 1981 came when he was only just 24, compared his compatriot to Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson with his mixture of aggression and good sense.

“Going by the last two days he can go a long way – I don’t think there are any limits if he keeps that up and I don’t think it’s too early (to face the Americans),” said the double Masters champion. “He is a winner and he has proved that.”

Colin Montgomerie threatened to get into contention when he reached eight under after 11 holes, but although he added two more birdies there was also a double bogey on the 13th and bogey on the short 17th.

That added up to a 68 and seven-under total – too far back to have a chance unless Kaymer comes back to the field.

Iain Pyman had the low round of the day, an eight under 64 which lifted the former British amateur champion from the cut line to nine under.