Paul Broadhurst's season may be coming to a premature end but it could yet do so with victory in the Scandinavian Masters.

Broadhurst carded a superb 64 in the third round at Arlandastad to lie just three shots off the lead shared by Germany's Martin Kaymer and South African James Kingston.

"My wife has to go into hospital for surgery next week so I'll be out of action for about 12 weeks with four kids and a sick wife to take care of," Broadhurst explained.

"That will be the priority. I might be able to play the British Masters at The Belfry because it's local
but it's a good incentive to get some money in the bank before a long break."

It looked as though Broadhurst's season was over yesterday afternoon when he stood five-over par with four holes to play, but the 42-year-old midlander birdied three of those holes to make the cut with just a shot to spare.

Broadhurst then produced an even better finish to his third round today to boost his chances of a seventh European Tour title. Birdies on the third and fourth took him to the turn in 32 and he picked up another shot on the 11th.

A bogey on the 12th halted his charge temporarily but he again tamed the tough closing stretch with birdies on the 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th - the latter from 30ft - to set a clubhouse target only bettered by Kaymer and Kingston in the last two groups.

"I was on my way home yesterday but birdied three of the last four holes and today I've birdied four of the last five. They are some of the toughest holes on the course so it's a great finish," Broadhurst added.

"The scoring is so bunched that anyone who shot three or four under was going to go flying up the leaderboard but I didn't dream of shooting six under par to be fair.

"I thought anything par or better would be a really good score and to shoot 64 means a few things went my way."

Fellow Englishman Nick Dougherty is alongside Broadhurst on four under after another erratic display in a round of 69.

"My swing is not far away but it is far enough but I think I did really well to hang in there," said Dougherty who is still in with a chance of winning the €265,000 first prize.

Kaymer has been tipped for stardom, with the inevitable tag of 'the next Bernhard Langer', since winning twice on the Challenge Tour last year.

The 22-year-old shared the lead going into the final round of the Wales Open at Celtic Manor earlier this season before fading to 14th and believes he can use that experience to claim victory tomorrow.

"I'm really looking forward to it," Kaymer said after a third-round 68 containing three birdies and just one bogey. "I was in the same position in Wales and I learnt a lot from that.

"I can use that tomorrow and just have to keep playing the way I have for the first three days."

David Higgins leads the Irish challenge on one-under after signing for a 71, that's one shot ahead of Peter Lawrie, who made up ground with his 69.

Damene McGrane dropped back to three-over after today's 73, one better than Gary murphy (71).