While Sweden's Pierre Fulke, second overnight, slipped back, tournament host Norman, and 19-year-old Baddeley both shot 68 to be one and two behind respectively.

Welshman Phillip Price then joined Baddeley in third place by holing a 40-foot closing putt for a 69.

Garcia was disappointed rather than delighted at the end of his round because he three-putted the 16th and 17th. The first was for his only bogey of the first two days and the other was for par. He had done the same on the long second.

Price, the 34-year-old from Pontypridd who last year had easily his most successful season on tour, went to the turn in 32 to get in on the act and after a six at the long 11th failed to birdie either the 14th or 17th, both reachable par fives.

Faldo knew he needed in the region of 68 to survive after taking a nine at the long 17th in his 76 yesterday. It did not come.

Resuming with a bogey made the task all the harder and with two more later in the round it became an exercise in damage limitation. Three birdies meant a level par 73 and at three over he was likely to miss out by five shots.

Justin Rose, twice second in South Africa last month, also stood three over with 16 to play, but then had three birdies and an eagle at the long second, his 11th. At two under, he had to wait all afternoon to see if it was good enough, but he looked safe.

German Sven Struver showed what he thought of a one under aggregate. After slumping to a 75 he took his putter and broke it into two pieces across his knee.