Sergio Garcia headed a group at eight under, the Spaniard notching birdies at the second, third and fifth.

Miguel Angel Jimenez, of Spain, and Argentinian Ricardo Gonzalez were tied with Garcia.

A shot behind them was Colin Montgomerie, looking for a 66 today to haul himself into contention.

The Scot started the day well, shooting birdies at the first and second. He then dropped a shot at the fifth, before birdies at the sixth and eighth gave him a front-nine 33.

Also at seven under was world number two Vijay Singh, who picked up two shots by the fourth hole but followed it up with a bogey at the fifth.

English trio Ian Poulter, David Lynn and Mark Foster made the most of the calmer conditions to move to seven under as well.

World number 11 Chris DiMarco, who had looked menacing on Friday, got off to a terrible start with a double bogey at the first.

The American had repaired the damaged by the fourth after two birdies to leave himself at six under.

After two days dominated by talk of the wind, there was just a slight breeze this morning – allowing players across the board to push on even if many of the bigger names were still early in their rounds.

Early starter Paul Broadhurst shot a five-under-par front-nine 31, a score from the Englishman which matched Spaniard Ignacio Garrido’s best of the week so far.

Schwartzel, the 21-year-old South African, had revelled in the wind the previous two days and made a solid start with two pars – unlike Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, overnight at seven under but compromised by two bogeys in his first three holes to drop to four under.