Singh ahead as battle rages behind

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SOTOGRANDE, Spain -- Indian Jeev Milkha Singh led the Volvo Masters by one stroke after 54 holes at Valderrama, while the race for the European Tour order of merit was moving to a furious climax right behind him.

Singh, who won the Volvo China Open this season, shot a well controlled three-under 68, to finish on three-under 210.

Three of the four contenders for the order of merit were in a group of 18 players within four shots of Singh, but current number one Paul Casey appeared to be out of the hunt for the Masters title.

Casey was six over but Padraig Harrington, David Howell and Robert Karlsson were all in contention to take the Masters first prize.

Swede Johan Edfors, Spaniard Sergio Garcia, Swede Henrik Stenson and England's Lee Westwood were all tied for second, a stroke behind Singh.

Harrington, second to Casey in the order of merit, was on 214, a shot behind Howell and Karlsson, who will the final round together.

Casey remains order of merit favorite in a share of 32nd place, after Howell and Harrington made strong runs for the lead, only to drop back over the back nine.

"I thought I would move up a bit more. I didn't think it was easy and I was happy with that" said Casey after a level par 71.

"I've not really crunched numbers, but I know I can maybe make Padraig finish second rather than third.

"Unfortunately the tournament is lost. There's nothing I can do about that. The first two days when I was ill pretty much killed off my chances of being in contention.

"There's nothing I can do about it. Whatever happens happens. It would certainly be disappointing but I don't think it would be a crushing disappointment. If it does not happen I have plenty more chances. But I certainly want the order of merit before I hang up the clubs."

Howell, in danger of missing the tournament with a shoulder injury, threatened to tear the course apart when he birdied five holes in a row from the third.

But he discovered that the smallest error is punished heavily at Valderrama.

He said: "It's exciting and I'm looking forward to it. I've given myself a chance and I definitely would have taken that Thursday morning.

Momentum

" Golf is such a game of momentum. I was in a nice little zone early on, but then came the three-putt. Classic error, momentum lost. After being five under through seven it was obviously disappointing only to score 70."

Harrington, who stood over an eight foot putt for birdie at the 16th and came off with a bogey, said: "Obviously I've got a difficult day ahead of me. The 16th was probably the big miss. It really knocked me back

" Four behind is not the end of the world, but I've put a lot of people between me and the lead and you've got to think somebody is going to shoot a decent score.

"It's not insurmountable, but when I was coasting along winning was a lot easier prospect than it is now."

Singh, making his debut in the event, said: "I've seen the course on television so many times and hopefully I can keep going for one more day. If it happens, good. If it doesn't I've got another week."

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