Anna Nordqvist's stunning seven-under round has her tied for the lead after 54 holes ©Getty Images

Anna Nordqvist and Nanna Koerstz Madsen are tied for the lead of the Women's Open after three rounds at Carnoustie, with the Swede carding the lowest round of the British major so far.

Nordqvist, a two-time major winner, produced a bogey-free 65 to burst into contention in grey, wet conditions.

Seven birdies, including three in the closing five holes, lifted Nordqvist to nine strokes under par.

Madsen shot a 68 today, including an eagle on the par-five 12th hole, to join Nordqvist on nine under.

Nordqvist and Denmark's Madsen are one shot ahead of American Lizette Salas, who overcame two bogeys in the first five holes to card a two-under 70.

With a further 11 players within three shots of the pace-setters, it is a crowded leaderboard.

Nelly Korda is three stokes off the lead as she attempts to win a second major of the year, to also complement an Olympic gold medal ©Getty Images
Nelly Korda is three stokes off the lead as she attempts to win a second major of the year, to also complement an Olympic gold medal ©Getty Images

There is a four-way tie for fourth, with Scottish amateur Louise Duncan one of those players on seven under.

The 21-year-old won this year's British Women's Amateur Championship, and has the same 54-hole score as the United States' Lexi Thompson, Swede Madelene Sagström and Finland's Sanna Nuutinen.

Yealimi Noh, another American, got to 10 under but dropped four shots on the last three holes so has receded to six under, joining a star-studded group.

World number one and Olympic champion Nelly Korda of the US, Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn - the 2016 champion - 2018 winner Georgia Hall from England, Canada's Brooke Henderson and South Koran Kim Sei-young are all major champions, and are all six shots off the lead.

The final round of the year's last major is scheduled to take place tomorrow, with more rain but light wind forecast.