Valderrama may be producing the toughest test The European Tour has seen for three seasons, but it is still Martin Kaymer's favourite course in the world.
Windy conditions and lightning fast greens have seen the Andalucía layout - long regarded as one of the planet's greatest golfing challenges - provide a devilishly difficult test over the first three days of the Real Club Valderrama Open de España, Hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation.
Only 19 under par rounds have been registered so far this week, with 15 of those on day one when calmer winds resulted in the course playing at its most benign.
Leader Mike Lorenzo-Vera will go into the final round at one over par, and a European Tour event has not been won with an over par score since Justin Rose won the US Open Championship at Merion in 2013.
Kaymer's win at the same event at Pinehurst the following season was his last victory on Tour and, after moving within one shot of Lorenzo-Vera with a level par 71 on Saturday, the German would love to end his wait for a win at Valderrama.
I really, really enjoyed the golf course. If there is one course I can play for the rest of my life it would be this one - Martin Kaymer
"It's so pretty – it was very hard to play the last couple of days – so therefore if you shoot level like I did today, then that was brilliant and makes it even more enjoyable.
"I placed myself on the right side usually to have enough green to work with, which I didn't do yesterday, so I learnt from that, but it is just tricky to make up-and-downs. But I think I made a few really good ones today, and then on 18 that was a big putt for tomorrow."
Joost Luiten is also a shot behind the leader after his third round 70, and he is the only person in the field to have played two rounds under par this week.
The Dutchman has four top tens from seven starts so far this season and believes if he can maintain his form around the greens, he can win his fifth European Tour title.
"I'm very happy because any score around par is a good score," he said.
"I knew it was tough today, and the experience of yesterday in this wind – anything around par and you move up the leaderboard and that is what I was hoping for, to be close to the lead and give me a chance for Sunday.
"I'm playing well, I had a good start to the year which builds up confidence. My long game is good, I don't really get into much trouble, today my short game was good, which is why I shot under par, but that is the part of my game which needs to be a more consistent and then you can really go out there for the win."
Andrew Johnston signed for a second consecutive 74 to also sit a shot off the lead and believes he is now prepared for whatever Valderrama may throw at him on Sunday.
"I'm kind of used to a hard course now!" he said. "I'll just keep it the same for tomorrow, expect the same, and if it's playing easier then it would be good, but if it's not then I'm prepared for it.
"Very hard fought out there. I just tried to dig in on every shot and not make any bogeys or doubles. It went alright for me. I just tried to keep it in play."
