Ian Poulter of England made a 20-foot putt on the final hole Saturday for an 8-under 64 and a four-shot lead following the third round of the Madrid Masters.

Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland, who is playing in his first event since the death of his wife from breast cancer last month, had a 69 to stand 12 strokes behind. His five birdies were offset by bogeys at the fourth and 12th holes.

Poulter had eight birdies over the final 13 holes to total 19-under-par, 197 total.

Former winner Ricardo Gonzalez of Spain recorded his third consecutive round of 67 to stand second. Scotland's Gary Orr (70) and Sweden's Christian Nilsson (68) are tied for third, three shots off the pace.

Clarke went into the 12th hole on a high after reeling off three straight birdies, but a bad bounce left his drive under a tree that forced him to take a penalty drop on his way to a bogey-5.

``Today was not quite as good as the first two days, but I'll work that out,'' Clarke said. ``I just got off to a tough start with two-putting everywhere, and then hit the wrong club on No. 4 because the wind changed round on me.''