McDowell stalks leaders

Graeme McDowell moved within striking distance of the leaders midway through his third round at the Barclays Classic in New York today

David Howell, Fredrik Jacobson and Vijay Singh were tied for the lead five holes into their third round on eight under par, with McDowell and Luke Donald just three strokes back in a tie for seventh spot.

Howell and Singh resumed as joint leaders, but while Howell birdied the par three first the Fijian bogeyed the first two holes. However, the momentum switched when Singh made birdies at the fourth and fifth and Howell bogeyed the first of those.

Swede Jacobson, meanwhile, set off with two birdies, bogeyed the next two, but then matched Singh's birdie at the long fifth.

McDowell covered the opening nine holes in one-under to remain well in the hunt. It was a different story for defending champion Padraig Harrington, however, a double bogey at the 18th effectively putting paid to any slim hopes he had and leaving him on one-over for the tournament.

Howell is back riding the crest of a wave as he prepares for next week's US Open at New York's Winged Foot golf course.

After the blip of a third round 83 in last week's Memorial tournament European tour number one Howell said following opening rounds of 66 and 68: "My confidence is right there — I'm playing about as well as I ever have.

"We can have many weeks on tour where nothing happens and we pick up a nice cheque and it's all very nice, but what it's all about is winning tournaments.

"What comes with that is a bit of stress, a bit of pressure, a lot of excitement and at the moment I've been handling those emotions pretty well generally in the last year or so.

"I'm feeling good about things and hopefully I can have a great weekend. This is the first time I guess I've been in the joint lead on the US Tour with two days to go."

Twice the winner of this event Singh commented: "This year has been horrible really. I don't know if it's my game or it's my head - I've been very impatient. I haven't been driving the ball very good and that's been the main problem.

"Hopefully, this is the start of my comeback."