Welshman Jamie Donaldson, yet to taste European Tour success after 237 events going back a decade, takes a one stroke lead into the final round of the Omega European Masters in Switzerland but he will have Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy, two of the leading players in the world, for company.
World Number Two Lee Westwood is one stroke behind the 35 year old after a best-of-the-day 64, and two back is US Open Champion Rory McIlroy - no doubt fired up to make amends for bogeys at two of his last three holes.
Just when it was shaping up to be a shoot-out between the two Ryder Cup stars, Donaldson grabbed four birdies in the closing six for a 65 and 14 under par total of 199.
"It will be awesome going up against two of the best players in the world at the moment," said Donaldson.
He turned professional after partnering Luke Donald and Paul Casey to second place in the 2000 World Amateur Team Championship.
But while they became instant hits in the paid ranks he suffered a serious back injury and had to go back to the Qualifying School five years ago.
Last season, though, he had no fewer than nine top-ten finishes and is poised now to break back into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking.
Westwood and McIlroy, meanwhile, were quickly off after their rounds to see other sporting interests at work.
At Haydock Park Westwood's horse Hoof It finished a very close third in the Betfred Sprint Cup, while McIlroy's girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki, the World Number One, was first on court at tennis` US Open.
The 22 year old, himself sixth on the Official World Golf Ranking, was no doubt hoping she would close things out better than he did in his third round.
"It was not the greatest way to finish," he said after three-putting the 16th and then going over the green from a fairway bunker at the 17th - after taking an iron off the tee for safety.
One of four joint-overnight leaders, McIlroy had jumped into a two stroke advantage with a 30 foot eagle putt from the fringe of the seventh green.
He then stayed out in front by matching Westwood's birdies at the 14th and 15th, but now is playing catch-up again.
"I'm still in there with a chance and I'll be looking for a fast start and putting a bit of pressure on the boys," added the Northern Irishman.
"I feel the way my game is there's a 61 or 62 out there."
Three years ago he was four clear with a round to go, but lost in a play-off after missing from five feet on the final green and from barely two feet at the second extra hole against France's Jean-Francois Lucquin.
Westwood finished off a front nine 31 with four successive birdies, but his only gains on the inward half came at the two par fives.
Back from a holiday in Barbados, he is fighting a head cold and said: "It's affecting my balance a bit.
"I played only six holes the last two weeks, which is not really the right preparation. But at some point in the year you have to take a break and recharge your batteries.
"It was nice not to have any fives on the card and no bogeys, especially on this course because it can trip you up."
Last week's Johnnie Walker Championship winner Thomas Björn and England's Gary Boyd are only three behind. Björn triumphed at Gleneagles from the same position.
First-round leader Nick Dougherty, whose 63 set him up to make his first cut in 22 starts going back to last November, fell from one behind to 25th on six under with a second successive 72.
