European Tour/Qatar Masters:Retief Goosen and Richard Green remain top of the leaderboard at the end of the third round of the Commercial bank Qatar Masters but were joined by Nick O'Hern.

While the majority of their countrymen were out celebrating Australia Day on Friday night, Green and O'Hern enjoyed a more subdued evening and it paid dividends today.

Green, without a European Tour victory for almost a decade, at one stage had moved into a two-shot lead after carding four birdies and just one bogey but a double bogey on the 18th meant he shot a one-under-par 71 and is 12 under overall.

Compatriot O'Hern made an indifferent start as birdies on the first and second were quickly wiped out by bogeys on the next two holes. However a faultless run coming home that included three birdies meant he carded a three-under 69.

World number eight Goosen was thankful for a good run on the final four holes after a poor start had seen him drop down the leaderboard.

The South African could only manage one birdie on his outward nine and dropped a shot on the ninth.

Further bogeys on the 13th and 14th threatened to undo all his good work in the previous two rounds but three successive birdies from the 15th ensured he remains on course for victory.

Determined to stop that from happening though is defending champion Henrik Stenson whose two-under 70 today moved him to just two shots behind the leaders.

The Swede carded three birdies and just one bogey and is 10 under overall.

American Edward Michaels joins Stenson in joint second after an impressive three rounds in his first competitive tournament for over a year.

Michaels has been battling back from a shoulder injury but showed few signs of rustiness to card a three-under 69.

A superb run coming home where he carded an eagle and two birdies ensured he leapt up the leaderboard.

"Hopefully tomorrow I can calm my nerves and hit a few more solid shots," he said.

"It grinds on you too much having to get up and down every hole. You can only do that for so long. But I will take one more day of it though."

Six shots off the lead though is Chris DiMarco, who will have to play an exceptional round tomorrow if he is to challenge.

DiMarco carded a birdie on the first but got into trouble on the 11th when his ball landed among some trees.

He eventually putted for a double bogey and though he managed four more birdies his final score of one-under 71 leaves him with a tough challenge in the last round.

Nick Dougherty is alongside DiMarco at six under while Paul McGinley is a shot behind the duo after carding a disappointing par 72.