ASH (Reuters) - Ross Fisher, bidding to become the tour's second wire-to-wire winner in as many weeks, marched three strokes clear after the European Open third round.

Saturday is often dubbed "moving day", with players jockeying for position ahead of the final round, but there were times when most of those on the leaderboard were reduced to statues by winds gusting up to 50 kph at the London Club.

Overnight leader Fisher made a faltering start with bogeys at the second and seventh before birdies at the eighth and ninth put him back on track.

He and playing partner Graeme McDowell matched each other shot for shot on the back nine, both men eagling the par-five 15th.

But McDowell let in his fellow Briton by bogeying the 16th and 18th, his last-hole error coming after he drove into water, to finish with a 71 for 203.

Fisher ensured there was a two-shot swing at the closing hole, arrowing his approach to within six feet of the flag and sinking his birdie putt to complete a three-under 69 and a 16-under total of 200.

The big-hitting Englishman, trying to emulate Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal's wire-to-wire success at last week's French Open, regularly outdrove McDowell but had to wait until the Northern Irishman suffered his two late lapses before taking control.

"I didn't play great today but I didn't play badly either," the 27-year-old Fisher told reporters. "It was one of those days when it was really, really difficult.

"You just had to stay patient and play by feel and we hung in there. To break 70 again was very, very pleasing."

AGONISING MOMENT

Fisher was the only player in the field to birdie the 471-yard 18th but he had an agonising moment on the tee.

"I was just thinking, 'please just carry the water' and when I finished quite a way up the fairway you could probably see the huge relief on my face," said the winner of last year's Dutch Open.

"I think my tee shot may have caused Graeme to take on a more aggressive line."

McDowell said his partner's length off the tee saved him at the last.

"Ross kind of pull-hooked his drive and I proceeded to do the same but I am not quite as long as he is and I didn't get away with it," said the 28-year-old from Northern Ireland.

South African David Frost belied his 48 years by shooting a 69 for 206. In joint fourth spot on 208 were Swede Michael Jonzon, Paul McGinley of Ireland and Dane Soren Hansen.

World number eight Sergio Garcia's title hopes nosedived after a shank at the 13th led to a disappointing 74 for 209.

"A guy shouted at the top of my backswing and I made a poor tee shot," said the Spaniard. "There were three guys there, they must have been drunk."

Champion Colin Montgomerie also left the final green in disgruntled mood after three consecutive bogeys at the 16th, 17th and 18th gave him a 73 for 210.

Like McDowell, the eight-times European number one dunked his drive into water at the last.

The breezy conditions meant scoring was tough at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Heritage course, with only five players breaking 70.

Justin Rose, the 2007 European number one, had a seven, a six and two fives as he limped home in 41 for a 77 and 219.

(Editing by Dave Thompson)