Graeme McDowell has promised to ‘buy the beers’ after remaining in the lead after three rounds of the WGC – HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.

McDowell has led from the start of the $US 8.5m event and will now take a one shot lead into the closing day of the final World Golf Championship of 2014 after posting a one under par 71 for an 11-under par tally.

It left the Northern Irishman one shot clear of Japan’s Hiroshi Iwata who moved into second place with a round of 68 for a 10-under par total, and with the 33-year old a shot clear of reigning US Open champion Martin Kaymer (66) and double Augusta National winner Bubba Watson (69).

“I’m buying the beers tomorrow night if I win this tournament, ” said McDowell as he was leaving the Sheshan Media Center.

“I’ve always played particularly well at the end of the season and it would be awesome to knock this off tomorrow.”

Graeme McDowell continues to lead the WGC – HSBC Champions event. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)

If successful, it would be McDowell’s first WGC triumph in 31 WGC appearances with his previous best finish being a trio of third place finishes including third a year ago here in Shanghai behind American Dustin Johnson.

“The HSBC Champions event has always felt special to me even though it may not have that status feel that Doral (WGC – Cadillac Championship) or Firestone (WGC – Bridgestone Invitational) has had for me,” he said.

“Not taking anything away from this event but I would love to win a WGC event and I would love to here tomorrow night as the WGC – HSBC Champions winner.

“But I don’t feel that pressure.  I don’t feel that Major Championship expectation.  I would love to win tomorrow, yes.  But it’s not going to change my life either way as I view tomorrow as an opportunity, and one of many opportunities, I will have left in my career and all I can do is give it my best shot.

“If I win I will be very happy and if I don’t win things are going in the right direction for me and I’m just happy with the way I am playing because I am giving myself opportunities like this weekend.

“So you could say I am fairly relaxed about the opportunity and ‘yes’ it is a WGC, and of course, I would love to add a few of those to my CV.”

And if McDowell does capture a lucky 13th pro career victory it will also be his second triumph of 2014 after successfully defending his French Open title earlier this year.

It would also continue a recent trend in McDowell’s career of having won two tournaments in a season.