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Belek - Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen moved closer to the $1.1m first prize as he opened up a seven-shot lead after the Turkish Airlines Open
third round on Saturday.
Olesen, who dropped a shot at the last, signed for a
three-under-par 68 to move to 18-under on the Regnum Carya course.
The 29-year old London-based Olesen is seeking a fourth Tour
victory and a first since last year's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St
Andrews.
"I've never had a seven-shot lead, so that's why I felt
a bit nervous when I went out today, also, because I've never been that many
shots clear," he said.
"It's a bit of a weird feeling, but I know it's not
easy and there's a bunch of guys there, and it's possible to shoot a really low
one out here.
"So the key remains to stay aggressive tomorrow and
keep plugging away."
Masters Champion Danny Willett and the highest ranked played
in the field will commence his final round in a distant share of 48th place at
two under par.
Willett, who shot a third round 68, needs to finish fifth or
higher if he's to regain the Race to Dubai lead in the absence of the No. 1
ranked Henrik Stenson.
Olesen capped his round with three birdies in succession
from the 14th and while he also bogeyed the 10th, the Dane has recorded an
eagle, 19 birdies and just three dropped shots over three rounds of the 6.3
million euro event.
"I thought I played really, really solid except for
missing a few short putts there in the middle of the round," he said.
"Tomorrow I have to do the same, be aggressive, and see
if I can make a few birdies. That's the key."
Victory would see Olesen move from 32nd to just outside the
top-10 on the Race to Dubai money list, and also lift his European Tour
earnings in seven seasons through the seven-million-euro barrier.
But he says: "No, it's not about the money as this is
the Final Series and it's a massive event and obviously it would be great to
win it."
"There's still 18 holes left and I really have to stay
concentrated out there and stay in my own little zone."
Four players - American David Lipsky (66), Austrian Bernd
Wiesberger (66), China's Li Hatong (68), Italy's Matteo Manassero (68) and
England's David Horsey (68) - share second at a distant 11-under par.
Manassero, 23 is headed for possibly his first top-three
finish in over three years since capturing the 2013 BMW PGA Championship, and a
fourth Tour title.
But after reaching a high of 25th in the world shortly after
that success at Wentworth, the Verona-born Manassero has slumped to be now
ranked No 356.
"I can say being second, one day to go, it's
frustrating because I could have done better today but I'm happy with where I'm
standing and we'll see what happens tomorrow," he said.
"Thorbjorn is playing great, and if he keeps playing like this, obviously he 110 percent deserves to win this tournament."
Turkish Airlines Open fourth round scores at the Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort, Belek on Saturday (par 71)
195 - Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 65-62-68
202 - David Horsey (ENG) 67-67-68, David Lipsky (USA) 67-69-66, Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 66-70-66, Li Haotong (CHN) 66-68-68, Matteo Manassero (ITA) 66-68-68
203 - George Coetzee (RSA) 64-73-66, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 67-66-70
204 - Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 67-69-68, David Drysdale (SCO) 67-68-69, Joakim Lagergren (SWE) 70-64-70, Adrian Otaegui (ESP) 70-63-71
205 - Wang Jenung-hun (KOR) 67-70-68
206 - Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 72-67-67, Justin Walters (RSA) 68-70-68; An Byeong Hun (KOR) 68-69-69, Nacho Elvira (ESP) 70-67-69, Jorge Campillo (ESP) 66-69-71
207 - Mikko Ilonen (FIN) 74-66-67, Felipe Aguilar (CHI) 67-72-68, Raphael Jacquelin (FRA) 69-69-69
Selected:
210 - Padraig Harrington (IRL) 72-69-69, Paul Lawrie (SCO) 69-70-71
211 - Danny Willett (ENG) 69-74-68
213 - Lee Westwood (ENG) 70-70-73, Victor Dubuisson (FRA) 72-69-72
