Swede Alexander Noren doubled his two shot overnight lead in the first two holes of the Omega European Masters final round in Switzerland but was not having it all his own way at Crans-sur-Sierre.

Noren, chasing his first European Tour win, chipped to three feet from just over the green at the par five first, then holed from nine feet at the 437 yard next after getting lucky with his pulled drive close to the trees.

South African Charl Schwartzel, second when he teed off, three putted the first and second for bogeys and dropped to fifth place.

Into second spot instead came Welshman Bradley Dredge, who splashed out of a greenside bunker to eight feet for an opening birdie, and Filipino Angelo Que, who eagled the first to get to 13 under as well.

Noren remained four clear after seven holes and was 18 under.

Dredge held second on his own, but into a tie for third - from 34th after three rounds - was 20 year old Rory McIlroy.

Last year's runner-up after a play-off was eight under for the day after 17 holes and needed another birdie at the last for a 62. But he was still five adrift of Noren.

Noren's advantage was back down to one by the turn. He bogeyed the short eighth and then Dredge pitched in for eagle on the ninth.

McIlroy looked out of it, though, when he bogeyed the last and with a 64 slipped to 12 under - five back - and joint sixth.