Lee Westwood shot one of just five under par rounds at the Masters Tournament on Saturday and then declared he had never known Augusta National prove such a challenge.
The 42 year old is playing in his 17th Masters and has a good record at Augusta with five top tens, including a runners-up finish in 2010.
The greens have always been notoriously difficult, but with high winds making both flighting the ball and putting even more testing than usual, Westwood's 71 with a stunning back nine of 32 was one of the highlights of the third round.
It was good enough to move him to one over for the week, just four shots behind leader Jordan Spieth, and Westwood was delighted with his efforts.
"It's not been easy," he said. "Billy (Foster, caddie) and I were talking coming up 18, we think it's the three hardest days either of us have ever had at Augusta.
To be at one over par and have a chance going into Sunday is great - Lee Westwood
"I hung in there around the front nine, I always think the front nine plays tough when it's hard conditions, there aren't that many birdie chances and there are a lot of bogey chances.
"And then around the back nine you know you can make a few birdies. You can be a bit more aggressive. I took advantage of those holes."
Søren Kjeldsen is alongside Westwood after a 74, and the Dane is hoping for more tough conditions on Sunday as he looks to eclipse his previous best finish in a Major Championship of sixth at the 2009 US PGA Championship.
"I'd like it to be like it's been the last three days," he said. "I think it's been fantastic.
"Obviously it's going to be a little bit calmer. I can decide a lot of things, but the weather I can't control. So I'm going to enjoy those calmer conditions, maybe we can get a few birdies."
Danny Willett is a shot ahead of his two fellow European Tour Members at level par and believes his ability in the wind could prove to be a vital asset in the final round.
"I think that it helps around this place," he said. "Obviously, it's been blowing a lot, you've got to control your ball flight. We have done that pretty well for the most part this week.
"But this golf course, even if you're hitting it really well, you've still got to make putts on these greens. Crosswinds and fast greens, it's never easy.
"The golf course has firmed up day by day so, hopefully, tomorrow if the wind does die, we can still keep the control of the ball flight and hopefully roll a few in."
