McDowell, who celebrates his 27th birthday today, set the early clubhouse target at 13 under par on another day of low scoring in Hamburg.

That was eventually overtaken by Italy's Emanuele Canonica, who carded a 66 to finish 15 under just minutes before play was suspended for the second time in three days due to the threat of lightning. Sweden's Robert Karlsson had extended his overnight one-shot lead to three after 10 holes, the Wales Open winner carding five birdies in his first seven holes to improve to 19 under par. Lee Westwood was his nearest challenger on 16 under after holing from six feet for a birdie on the 11th just before the suspension.

Eight shots off the lead overnight after rounds of 68 and 70, McDowell had earlier picked up five shots in the space of four holes at Gut Kaden yesterday morning.

The Ulsterman, who led after the first round of the Open at Hoylake last week before fading to 61st, opened with two pars but then eagled the par-five third after a 3-wood apprach to 15ft.

The 26-year-old from Portrush then birdied the fourth, parred the fifth and eagled the par-five sixth after another excellent 3wood approach to make it five threes in a row.

His charge was halted by four pars in a row around the turn but birdies at the 11th and 15th completed an excellent round. McDowell played with Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam in the first two rounds but admitted his chances of qualifying for the team at the K Club in September had all but disappeared. "It's not nice for me to say the Ryder Cup has gone but I think it has because I haven't played well enough over the last couple of months, " McDowell said.

"I have played a lot of golf over the past three months and I'm taking the next two weeks off because I need to recharge the batteries. I've been a little bit fried and haven't been firing on all cylinders so I really need to rest up and get myself right for the USPGA championship."

Woosnam meanwhile, seeking his 30th tour title in his 505th event, was five off the lead after going to the turn in 35.