England's Ross McGowan stormed into a seven-shot lead at the Madrid Masters after an incredible third round of 60 on Saturday.

The 27-year-old began the penultimate day one shot behind co-leaders Sergio Garcia and David Drysdale in joint-second place but went into the clubhouse seven shots ahead after a round featuring two eagles, 10 birdies and two bogeys.

It smashed the record for the biggest winning margin on the circuit after 54 holes this year, which previously stood at four shots, and puts McGowan within touching distance of his first European Tour title.

"I just played my own game and didn't think about the score until I hit the second shot to the 18th," said McGowan, who is currently in eighth place in the European Ryder Cup standings.

"Then I thought, 'Hang on - that was for 59.'"

McGowan hit his approach to the 18th around 20 feet past the flag before rolling in the putt for his second eagle of the day.

The world number 177 finished at 24 under-par and is well-placed to break the Tour record for a 72-hole score, which is a 29-under-par from South Africa's Ernie Els at the Johnnie Walker Classic six years ago.

The Essex-born player also broke the all-time Tour record for 54 holes by one shot, but preferred lies have been in place for all three rounds.

McGowan's playing partner Garcia turned in a disappointing showing in front of his home fans at Centro Nacional, bogeying four of the last seven holes and falling 10 shots off the pace.

He was only one behind McGowan at the turn but dropped shots on 12, 14, 16 and 17 to leave his hopes of a first title this year in tatters.

Drysdale produced a three-under-par 69, allowing England's Danny Willett and Michael Lorenzo-Vera of France to establish a share of second place.

Willett's round of 66 took him up from sixth, while a 64 from Lorenzo-Vera allowed him to clamber up the leaderboard from 10th.

McGowan has now notched scores below 70 in 10 of his last 11 rounds.

"I don't feel like I'm going to miss a shot unless I'm in the rough or get a silly lie," he said.

AFP

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