Alexander Björk rediscovered his form in spectacular style to move right into contention with a 68 on day three of the Sky Sports British Masters.
The Swede claimed a maiden European Tour title earlier in the season at the Volvo China Open but arrived at Walton Heath Golf Club having not made the weekend in five of his last six events.
A double-bogey on the third on Saturday dropped him back to level par for the week and eight off the lead but he made birdies on the fifth and sixth and then four in a row from the tenth to get within three and register his lowest round since July.
“I feel like I'm back on the right track again,” he said. “I was quite tired after the summer and I didn't play really well in August.
“After that I got food poisoning in Switzerland, took a couple of weeks off after, it's just starting to be back to normal again.
“I feel strong again and feel like the game is coming in the right direction. I've been working hard for this and it's nice to see this coming back again.”
American Julian Suri also had to fight back from a double-bogey on the third, making a hat-trick of gains from the sixth and adding further birdies on the 11th and 13th.
That left him alongside Björk at six under as he looks to get over the line after twice finishing second in the 2018 season.
“Overall it was really solid,” he said. “Hit it nicely like I have been all week, got a few putts to drop on the front nine after a rocky start and pretty pleased with where I'm at.
“It's got a great list of champions and it's a tournament that I've kind of always grown up watching it, all the different venues. It would be cool to add my name to that list.”
England's Jordan Smith was also at six under after a 70 and had held solo second place behind Eddie Pepperell before a bogey on the 16th.
The 2017 Porsche European Open champion is now aiming for a second European Tour title and would love to do it on home soil.
“Everyone says it's going to mean everything, which it will,” he said. “For me, it will top my year.
“It hasn't been quite as good as what I had last year but to get that win would be massive. To do it here with Justin Rose, one of my idols, hosting it, it would be awesome.”
Frenchman Julien Guerrier completed the group at six under after firing a third-round 70 on a day when he had to complete the final three holes of round two in the morning.
He dropped a shot to start round three four off the lead but made three birdies and a bogey to stay right in contention for his first European Tour title.
“I'm really happy to play under par again,” he said. “It's tough conditions, the wind was a little bit less windy. I played a good round and was very often in a birdie position, which is good.
“I'll try to stay focused because I'm a little bit tired and the season is long. It's the end, so if I stay focused and keep concentration very high, it's good.”
