Niklas Norgaard in commanding position ahead of British Masters final round

Denmark's Niklas Norgaard will take a four-shot lead into the final round of the British Masters after Tyrrell Hatton crashed out of contention.

Hatton began the day with a one-shot lead but ended it 10 adrift following a miserable 76 at The Belfry, where Norgaard carded nine birdies in a brilliant 64, just one off the course record.

Norgaard looked set to enjoy an even bigger lead when he followed a front nine of 33 with birdies at the 10th, 11th, 14th, 15th and 16th to move six shots clear, only to bogey the par-five 17th.

That allowed Thriston Lawrence, who finished fourth in the Open at Royal Troon, to close within three as he birdied the last four holes in a 67, but Norgaard responded superbly to also birdie the 18th and finish 16 under par.

Ireland's Simon Thornton posted a third-round 76 to fall to five-over par.

His round included a double bogey on the par-three 12th as his tee shot went way left to leave him in trouble, but there were three birdies on the card also.

"I was not looking at the scores at all, but I knew it was not easy," said Norgaard, who was part of a six-way tie for the lead after 54 holes last year before finishing seventh.

"We had a bit of wind today and I think it’s just because I was very, very present as I haven’t been before. I was just in every shot.

"The bogey on 17 was stupid but that took a little bit of pressure off hole 18, just calmed me down a little bit because that’s a pretty tough tee shot. But I felt pretty calm out there and we had a good time, my caddie and I.

"I think I just really had the belief after seeing the putts go in and on the final one, I had no doubt I was going to make that one. So that was very nice.

"I think last year my best finish was the seventh place here and now