Niklas Nørgaard matched the low round of the week with a sublime eight under 64 to open a four-stroke lead with round one to play at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo.
Despite Nørgaard’s heroics, it was a tough day on the Brabazon course and just 17 of the 79 who made the cut broke par. Simon Thornton started strongly with two bridies in the opening four holes but would pick up just the one stroke thereafter, mixing five bogeys and a double for a five-over 76 that leaves him tied for 67th.
32-year-old Danish Nørgaard was two back on Saturday morning but put on an incredible display to reach 16 under par and four clear of South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, who sits second at The Belfry on 12 under par.
Nørgaard showed his intention from the off with a birdie at the first, with another following at the par five third after seeing an eagle putt burn the edge. He added a third gain at the par five seventh to make the turn at three under and with the lead.
The 2021 European Challenge Tour graduate pressed down his advantage immediately as he entered the back nine, birdieing the Brabazon’s iconic tenth hole after driving the green before making it back-to-back red numbers with another three at the par four 11th.
The two-time Nordic Golf League winner then reeled off a run of three birdies from the 14th which culminated in a monster 42-foot putt down the slope at the par four 16th.
He dropped his only shot of the day at next, the par five 17th, after hitting a wayward drive into the trees, but reclaimed that shot in front of a packed 18th hole with a ninth and final birdie to put the finishing touches to a fine round of 64.
“We sat there in recording, we just rewatched the whole round but yeah, I made a lot of putts,”
Nørgaard said afterwards. “That’s what I’ve been struggling with a little bit this year, the putting. Driving has been good. Today it just kind of clicked with the putting. It’s just funny how the snowball just rolls after one putt, then the other one feels easier and then the next even easier. Just that kind of day.
“I was not looking at the scores at all, but I knew it was not easy. We had a bit of wind today, and I think it’s just I was very, very present as I haven’t been before. I was just in every shot.”
Nørgaard’s third round effort earns him the 54-hole lead for the second successive year at the Betfred British Masters after being part of a six-way leading contingent in 2023, but will have to fend off four-time DP World Tour winner Lawrence who is his closest challenger among the chasing pack.
Frenchman Jeong weon Ko is two shots behind Lawrence in third on ten under par, with England’s Andrew Wilson two shots further back after a closing double bogey.
The total amount raised for Guide Dogs after three rounds at The Belfry stands at £30,500, with 33 eagles and 28 drives finishing on the tenth green.