When last week in the Canon European Masters Nick Faldo found himself among the leaders, he remarked that the experience was "a re-learning curve". Yesterday, at St Nom la Breteche in the Lancome Trophy, it seemed he was still struggling to run the bend, as he first threatened but then fell badly away.

After 15 holes Faldo had reached seven-under par with a par five still to come, to be only two behind the leader, the left-handed Australian Nick O'Hern, who was on 133. But instead of either getting closer or consolidating his position as he might have done five years ago, Faldo made a series of very basic errors that saw him finish the day at only five-under, on 137.

Had he merely parred the last three holes he would have been joint third, putting himself in an admirable position to take a big cheque and gather invaluable Ryder Cup points over the weekend. He may still do that, but he will find it much more of a struggle. "It was disappointing to mess it up at the end," said Faldo. "It's annoying to finish like that and it dampens what could have been a really great day. But it was good to go out and create a lot of birdie chances."

The long 16th is not a hole that troubles the good players - both Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood, Faldo's playing partners, birdied it - but the tall Englishman drove into a bunker, which meant he could not get up in two and had to accept a five.

Nor is the 17th a hole that bothers too many, being a good drive and short iron to a flat green. But Faldo left his first putt three feet away and, in hitting the par putt firmly, steered it off-line and it ran three feet past. That was holed with an air of relief but worse was to follow at the short 18th, when he found the bunker and narrowly avoided a double-bogey five, sinking the putt for his eighth single of the day.

Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke are among the big names alongside Faldo and the Spaniard, planning to play more in America next year, is keen to break the back of qualifying for the Ryder Cup before he departs. One man with no such concerns is Vijay Singh, who finished the day three-under par.