Graeme McDowell birdied his final hole to take a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the Saudi International at Royal Greens GCC. 

The Portrush golfer sits on 12-under and leads by one stroke from his former Ryder Cup partner, Victor Dubuisson, after carding a four-under-par round of 66 on Saturday. 

FULL LEADERBOARD

Following an indifferent front nine, McDowell caught fire on the inward half, rolling in three successive birdies on 12, 13 and 14 before finishing with a flourish thanks to a birdie-4 at 18, meaning he'll take a narrow advantage into Sunday. 

"The putter has been ice cold over the last couple of days but it heated up a bit on the back nine," McDowell said.

"It was really pleasing to get a few birdies there because I think the back nine has played difficult. I'm going to have to putt well to have a chance tomorrow."

McDowell and Dubuisson partnered up to great effect in 2014 for Paul McGinley's European team at Gleneagles.

"I keep an eye out for Victor, and it's nice to see him up there on the leaderboard," McDowell said.

McDowell and Dubuisson dovetailed nicely at Gleneagles in the 2014 Ryder Cup

France's Dubuisson admitted he is very much looking forward to renewing acquaintances with his former team-mate."We haven't played together since the Ryder Cup," he said. "I'm very happy to play with him tomorrow."

McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, hasn't won on the European Tour since his Open de France victory in 2014, though he did triumph on the PGA Tour in the Dominican Republic in March last year.

Dubuisson carded the joint-lowest round of the day with a 65, birdieing the opening three holes, adding two more on the back nine on 12 and 14 before his momentum sagged slightly on the run-in. 

Overnight leader Gavin Green carded early birdies but dropped strokes on the closing stretch and remains at nine under par and sits in third place. 

Dustin Johnson is tied-4th on seven under par following a rollercoaster round of 70, which began with four straight birdies but was undermined by three bogeys in four holes between 11 and 14. 

World No 1 Brooks Koepka was one of four players, alongside Dubuisson, Ian Poulter and Belgium's Thomas Detry, to card 65 and finds himself at six under par. 

Shane Lowry is currently tied-16th on four under par. The Open Champion concluded an otherwise patchy third round with birdies on 17 and 18 for an even par score of 70.