ALVESLOHE, Germany -- Robert Karlsson took a two-shot lead over Lee Westwood with a 6-under 66 Saturday in the third round of the Deutsche Bank Players Championship.

The Swede birdied the long 17th hole to maintain his lead over Westwood, who also birdied it. Karlsson has a 20-under total of 196 with Westwood (67) at 198.

Ian Woosnam shot a 69 to hold a share of third place with Charl Schwartzel (68). Both were at 16-under 200.

Retief Goosen (69), Gary Orr (70) and Emanuele Canonice (66) were each another shot back.

Karlsson has dropped just one shot in three rounds on the 7,290-yard Gut Kaden course -- on the fourth hole Friday.

"I'm really happy with the way I felt out there," Karlsson said.

Karlsson is trying hard to deflect attention from the fact that he would move into a Ryder Cup qualifying spot if he wins on Sunday.

"There's a lot more out there tomorrow than the Ryder Cup to play for. I look at the tournament as one separate thing. If I should win tomorrow, I would look at that on Monday," he said.

Karlsson finished 11th on the points list in 1999 with the top 10 qualifying, but he was not made a wild card pick by then-captain Mark James.

He played Saturday with present captain Woosnam. But Karlsson tried to ignore the possible significance of that.

"If you get caught up in that sort of thing six weeks before the Cup, there is a big problem," he said.

Thunder and lightning in the area forced a suspension of 1 1/2 hours, and when Karlsson, who marked his ball on the 11th green with a coin, returned to the green, the coin was gone.

He had to estimate where his ball has been.

"I was definitely not nearer, I know that," he said after two-putting for par.

Westwood has also dropped only one shot in three rounds. And he, too, is on the fringe of Ryder Cup qualification.

"I'm just looking for a win. I'm thinking of nothing else. One will take care of the other," said the Englishman, who played on the last four European teams.

Woosnam had a birdie at the last and shared third place with Schwartzel. He plans to be aggressive on Sunday.

"The guys are not going to come back to you. You have to go to them on a course like this," Woosnam said.

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