European Tour

KLM Open 2018

September 13-16

The Dutch, Spijk, Netherlands

€1,800,000

September 13-16

The Dutch, Spijk, Netherlands

€1,800,000

Round 3

Wood rises to the top in Spijk

Round 1

Round 2

Round 4

Round 1

Round 2

Round 4

September 15, 2018

Chris Wood will take a one-shot lead into the final day of the KLM Open after carding a six under par third round of 65 at The Dutch.

- Getty Images

“I got into the round, hit a couple of loose shots to start with but I've got enough experience now, there's no need to let it get away from me."

“I'll just keep chipping away, I'm hitting the ball okay, keep doing my thing and the birdies will come."

“My target was 15 under for the tournament so I'm going to look a little bit differently at that now. I'll take another 65 tomorrow if you offer it me now.”

The Englishman started the day five shots behind overnight leader Ashun Wu, and after reaching the turn in 34 the three-time European Tour winner left himself with work to do to overtake Hideto Tanihara, who had taken the clubhouse lead following a course-record-equalling score of 63.

But following five birdies over his closing nine holes Wood soared into top spot and holds a one-shot advantage over Tanihara, Wu and countryman Jonathan Thomson with 18 holes to go in The Netherlands.

“It was great," said Thomson. "I started off really strong today, I hit a few great tee shots on one and two and then holed a few putts again and it's always nice to get off to a start like that."

“Me and my caddie have done a really good job this week of reining it in when we needed to rein it in and not be so aggressive. I had more opportunities to be aggressive over the back nine but with the wind blowing today was not the day for that."

“This is fantastic and it's what we're all here to do – to be in contention. Let's just have some fun out there. There might be times when it's tough and there might be times when it's easy but you have to just go out and enjoy it out there.”

Tanihara's bogey-free eight under par round was the second score which equalled the course record at The Dutch today, with Belgium's Thomas Detry reeling off nine birdies en route to his 63 early on Day Three – South Africa's Brandon Stone and home favourite Joost Luiten both shot 63 in 2016.

“I heard that it was a course record but I wasn't concentrating on that today – I just focused on my own game today," said Tanihara.

“My playing partners did exceptionally well today but I tried not to think too much about what they were doing and concentrated more on my myself."

“It is my goal to win this tournament and I am very happy to be in this position going into the final day.”

Two shots off the lead is England's Richard McEvoy who also rose up the leaderboard after a seven under par 64, while Ryder Cup Vice Captain Padraig Harrington finds himself in contention again after a six under par 65 today – leaving him three off the pace.