Marc Warren established a slender lead as the final round of the BMW PGA Championship approached the closing stages at Wentworth Club.
The Scot, two behind leader Alejandro Cañizares overnight, turned in a level par 35 but then started for home with four consecutive birdies including a holed pitch at the 13th.
At 11 under par he was one ahead of clubhouse leader and 2010 champion Simon Khan and Italy’s Matteo Manassero, who like Warren had five left to play.
Lee Westwood, seeking to win the European Tour's flagship event for the first time at his 20th attempt, began the day one shot behind playing partner Cañizares but was quickly two ahead after birdies at the second, third and fourth.
The 40 year old had enjoyed a two shot swing in his favour with a birdie on the fourth to a bogey six from Cañizares, but the situation was reversed on the sixth where Westwood failed to save par from over the green and Cañizares holed from short range for birdie.
Both players then bogeyed the seventh as well - Westwood three-putting - but the World Number 12 hit straight back with a birdie from 15 feet on the eighth.
A rare par on the ninth left Westwood ten under par at the turn, but in stark contrast to Warren he dropped three shots over the next three holes to drop to seven under, while Cañizares was one better despite a bogey at the 11th.
