LONDON (AFP) - Ross Fisher improved his chances of becoming a wire-to-wire winner of the European Open by extending his lead to five shots in the opening three holes of his final round at the London Club on Sunday.

The 27-year-old Englishman, who shot a course record 63 in the first round, parred the first and the third with a bogey in between.

But he was helped on his way by the sight of nearest pursuer Graeme McDowell dropping a shot on the first before the Nothern Ireland golfer went in the water on the third on a windswept day on his way to a double-bogey five.

Fisher was on 15 under par and McDowell 10 under - the same score as veteran South African David Frost and Spain's Sergio Garcia, who had birdies at the fourth, seventh and eighth holes.