Saturday May 22, 2010, 05:58 PM

England's Chris Wood will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the European PGA Championship but Saturday's third round was dominated by Robert Karlsson's course record 62 after a dramatic dash back to London from Monaco.

Wood signed for a 67, and a three round total of 205, two ahead of Karlsson and Danny Willett with Luke Donald a further shot back in fourth.

Defending champion Paul Casey and Ireland's Padraig Harrington are another stroke adrift along with Scot Stephen Gallacher and South African James Kingston.

World number three Lee Westwood and Ireland's Rory McIlroy both have to perform miracles to win. Westwood is four-over par and McIlroy three over, whilst Ernie Els had a 76 to drop right out of contention.

All the players were overshadowed by Karlsson's incredible story.

Karlsson's extraordinary 24 hours started on Friday afternoon when he travelled home to Monaco convinced he had missed the cut on three over par.

He was a 'par five' away from his home when he was informed that he had made the last two days and he began the long journey back to London, without even seeing his wife.

After a flight to Paris, and an early morning private jet to London, costing 11,000 dollars, he arrived at the course two hours ahead of his tee time and set about his record breaking round.

Karlsson got to the turn in 30 and four more birdies on the back nine gave him the lowest round in the 55-year history of the championship, a new course record and equalled the lowest round shot in the European Tour this year.

The Swede said: "I was having breakfast when (Danish professional) Soren Hansen said 'This trip has got 63 written all over it'.

"I was not happy on Friday night. But I felt as if I had a second chance and I wanted to go out and take it.

"My caddy said 'We have been invited back to this party - let's party'. It is the most unexpected round of my career. It was not perfect and I was in trouble a number of times. I have played better but my putter was very, very hot.

"I have been in the situation before. You just make the cut and you can just go out and play and enjoy it - if you don't play well, nobody cares."

Wood, 22, who has top-five finishes in the last two British Opens - birdied three of his first four holes. He was out in 32 and birdies at the 11th and 12th put him into a three-shot lead.

He came back to the field with two bogeys but steadied the ship with a 25-foot putt to claw a shot back on the 16th.

But after nearly holing a bunker shot on the last he said he was still not playing as well as he can although he is in pole position to claim a first European Tour title.

He said: "I never felt in complete control of the ball and I hit a few loose shots -and I didn't think I hit the ball that well but I scored well."

Harrington, Wood's playing partner, said: "It is his to lose. This is a tough golf course in the afternoons and if he shoots two or three under par I can't see him being beaten."

Harrington had a one over par 72 to trail Wood by five shots after failing to convert good chances at the start of his round and did not make a birdie on the back nine.

He added: "I let my frustration get to me a bit. I played the first couple of holes really well and didn't get the birdies."

© 2010 AFP/sid