Michael Campbell
The revival of Michael Campbell continued as he and Danny Lee stayed within sight of the leaders at the weather-hit Malaysian Masters.
Midway through their respective third rounds at the rich European Tour event, the New Zealand pair were in a share of ninth place, five shots behind outright leader Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland.
McIroy was on 12-under through nine holes before rain and lightning which had disrupted play all day forced an end to proceedings overnight
Campbell was three-under through 13 holes to climb five places at seven under.
It marks another return to form for Campbell, who is showing signs of emerging from a high-profile slump of recent years.
Earlier this month he finished in a share of 19th place at the Hassan II Trophy tournament in Morocco, his best finish on the European Tour for nearly three years.
The 42-year-old ended his second round at Kuala Lumpur with three straight birdies and has been bogey-free in this third while racking up successive birdies on the third, fourth and fifth holes.
Meanwhile, overcoming his recent final-round collapse at the Masters, McIlroy birdied his final hole of the day to move two strokes clear.
There is a three-way tie for second involving Italian Matteo Manassero, Swede Alexander Noren and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy.
Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa just made the cut when he carded a one-under 71 in the second round to finish on 144. The South African ended the day at two-under through 11 holes of the third round. Top-ranked Martin Kaymer is at 9-under after 15 holes, moving up from 25th to sharing fifth place with Felipe Aguilar.
McIlroy wasn't entirely satisfied with his efforts.
"I hit some good shots that if they went a foot either way, would have been great," he said. "It's nice to hole the that putt on the ninth and finish on a positive note. I've still got the lead but it is going to be a long day tomorrow. Twenty-seven holes in the heat is going to be tough."
But it was Frenchman Gregory Bourdy who dominated the third round with seven birdies against a lone bogey through 14 holes. He and Italian teenager Matteo Manasserro were tied for second with Alexander Noren of Sweden.
"Everything was good, my putting and driver which was longer and straighter," Bourdy said. "It was nice to be six under after the 13th and I thought I made a birdie on the 14th but just missed."
Defending champion Noh Seung-yul of South Korea finished on 145 in the second round, missing the cut to advance into the third round by one stroke.
"My swing was horrible and the ball was flying everywhere," Noh said. "I changed my swing two months ago and I had an injury to my finger as well."
Officials from the Asian and European Tours, which co-sanction the tournament, are expected to decide later today whether to extend the Malaysian Open to Monday for the first time ever.
In 2006, the tournament at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club was shortened to 54 holes due to heavy rain.
