Tyrrell Hatton found himself in his familiar place at the top of the leaderboard after turning in 31 over the Old Course at St Andrews on day three of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The Englishman became the first player to successfully defend this title last season and is now looking to become the first to win the same regular European Tour event three years in a row since Ernie Els at Heineken Classic between 2002 and 2004.
After returning from Europe's triumphant Ryder Cup win, Hatton opened with a 70 in windy conditions at Kingsbarns Golf Links and followed it with a brilliant, bogey-free 66 at the Championship Course Carnoustie.
His 31 blows on Saturday morning - including two eagles - moved him to 13 under, three shots ahead of overnight leader Andrea Pavan as he goes in search of European Tour title number three.
Hatton's fellow Ryder Cup hero Tommy Fleetwood birdied three of his first four on the Old Course to sit at nine under alongside the other overnight leader in Lucas Bjerregaard.
Hatton birdied the second, made an eagle on the par five fifth and then holed his second on the par four ninth to surge ahead at the Home of Golf.
Italian Pavan had played four holes at Carnoustie with a birdie on the fourth, while Dane Bjerregaard made four pars over the same four holes.
England's Fleetwood made a birdie-birdie-birdie start and then parred the fourth.
Local favourite Stephen Gallacher played the back nine at the Old Course in 33 to sit at eight under alongside Frenchman Alexander Levy, who started with three birdies at Carnoustie and added two pars.
Australian Marcus Fraser was also five off the lead after parring his first at Kingsbarns.
England's Ashley Chesters, Kiwi Ryan Fox and Austrian Matthias Schwab completed the top ten at seven under.
