Murphy has title in his sights

Gary Murphy, who started the week desperately trying to hold on to his card, is within touching distance of a first European Tour title.

The Kilkenny man can seal his card for next season and beyond in the best possible fashion in the final round of the Mallorca Classic tomorrow.

The top 118 players on the Order of Merit on Sunday evening retain their playing rights for 2007 and Murphy began the week in 118th place.

But after rounds of 66, 71 and 70 the 34-year-old from Kilkenny finds himself sharing the lead with Sweden's Niclas Fasth and entertaining thoughts of claiming a first European Tour title and a two-year exemption.

"I'm pretty happy although I left a couple of shots out there," said Murphy, who led by two shots after birdies at the first and sixth but also trailed by two following three bogeys in six holes around the turn. "I'm a bit surprised to still be leading as the conditions were a lot better but it's so easy to drop silly shots out there and that's what I was trying to avoid doing.

"Par is your friend out there, if you could make 18 pars you would be very happy. I'm just trying to be patient and not try to do something I'm not capable of."

Murphy thought he had done enough to secure his card with third in the Russian Open back in August - his best finish in seven years on tour - but then missed the next four halfway cuts.

"I would say Russia was the only event I thought I had a really good chance of winning and went into it aiming to shoot 20 under par," added Murphy, who would qualify for next week's lucrative Volvo Masters with victory on Sunday.

"That's the only time I've set targets for myself and it nearly worked."

Australia's Peter O'Malley is one shot off the pace after a 68 with Scotland's Marc Warren, winner of the Scandinavian Masters in August, another stroke back after a 71.

Pre-tournament favourite Sergio Garcia, first and second here in the last two years, is three off the lead after a third successive round of 70 left him on level par.

"There were a lot of good shots but unfortunately a couple of bad ones and I couldn't really get anything going," admitted the world number 10, one of the stars of Europe's Ryder Cup victory at the K Club. "Although it was not as windy as the first two days the wind was changing all the time, I've never seen it change so much in my life.

"I have a chance tomorrow and hopefully I can get a good round in. If it's windy an under par score might do it and if not I'll need to shoot a 65. I hope I have that in me!"