Thorbjorn Olesen leads British Masters entering final round

SUTTON COLDFIELD, England — Thorbjorn Olesen completed eagle-birdie to shoot 3-under 69 and take a 3-stroke lead into the ultimate spherical of the British Masters as he bids for his first win in 4 years amid a profession rebuild.

The Danish golfer broke a four-way tie for the lead on Saturday after nearly holing his strategy from 242 yards on the par-5 seventeenth gap. He tapped in from 2 ft for a second eagle of the day and holed a birdie putt from 23 ft on the final.

Olesen was 11 beneath general, with third-round chief Hurly Lengthy (73) and Marcus Armitage (70) the closest challengers on 8 beneath.

“I understand how exhausting it’s to win out right here,” Olesen stated. “It by no means comes straightforward. … If I can preserve staying aggressive and never worrying an excessive amount of, that is essential.”

American Chase Hanna was a part of a five-man group an extra shot behind after capturing 66, the bottom spherical of the day on the Belfry.

Olesen’s final win was on the Italian Open in June 2018. He was suspended by the European tour the next yr after being accused of sexually assaulting a lady and being intoxicated on a flight following a World Golf Championships occasion in Tennessee.

Olesen was acquitted by a court docket in December after saying he had no reminiscence of his conduct as a result of he had been ingesting alcohol and taking sleeping tablets. He stated the case had a “devastating impression” on his profession, having plunged down the rating from his place at No. 62 on the time of the incidents.

Olesen is ranked No. 376 and hasn’t completed larger than a tie for twelfth in any of his seven occasions on the European Tour this yr.