Holder David Howell is on track to claim back-to-back victories at the BMW International Open after shooting a six-under-par 66 in the third round to open up a two-stroke lead over Padraig Harrington and Colin Montgomerie.

Despite bogeying the last hole after finding a water hazard, the 31-year-old recorded a 14-under total of 202.

Harrington, who finalised his place in Europe's Ryder Cup team when he made the cut, moved into joint second place after throwing off the shackles of qualification with a 64 which included six successive threes on the back nine.

Montgomerie (66) and Sweden's Martin Erlandsson (69), the only player in the top four who will not feature in next month's Ryder Cup, also joined the Irishman on 204.

"It's my best effort at retaining a title but the job is by no means done," Howell explained. "The leaderboard is obviously good for the Ryder Cup side. We want to gain as much confidence as we can for three weeks' time. It was pretty much the same the last time in 2004 and it's a good sign for us."

Howell called Montgomerie's decision to fly to Glasgow to parade the Ryder Cup at a Robbie Williams pop concert on Saturday evening "an interesting way to prepare" for the final round.

With the three rivals to Paul McGinley and Jose Maria Olazabal for the last two automatic Cup spots seemingly out of title contention, Europe's 10 qualifying positions are close to being rubber-stamped.

Thomas Bjorn needs to win to have any chance of qualifying but is nine strokes off the pace.

It now looks like the Dane will be in a straight fight with Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood for one of captain Ian Woosnam's two wildcards.    But Bjorn feels only one pick should be up for grabs.

"Everybody thinks Darren is a certainty and I've said all along he should play," he said.