Everything you need to know from round three at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.
A man back on the road to redemption, comebacks galore and a game of chase the ace were the story on another thrilling day at the Omega European Masters.
Here is everything you need to know from Saturday at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.
Romero comes back.......again
When Andres Romero won the Deutsche Bank Players' Championship of Europe in 2007 just a week after finishing third at The Open Championship, he had the world at his feet. He would finish seventh on the Order of Merit that season and two more Major top tens would follow in 2008, so it is amazing to think he had to wait until 2017 for his second European Tour win. A second chapter in his career looked to be beginning but he has had just one top ten since winning the BMW International Open and entered this week 168th on the Race to Dubai. A career low round of 61 on Friday was another high before the low of being three over after five holes but Romero showed some fight, turning in level par and coming home in 31 to lead by one. The Argentinian could well lift the trophy on Sunday, but it won't have been easy. It never is.
Speaking of comebacks........
The top four heading into Sunday were a combined ten over for their rounds after five holes on day three. Romero and Gavin Green were three over, while Tommy Fleetwood was two over and Wade Ormsby one. Fleetwood even dropped another shot on the sixth before roaring back for a 68, while Ormsby's recovery went one better, and that included a bogey on the last that dropped him out of the lead. Overnight leader Green battled back for a 69 and the race at the top is wide open.
McIlroy eyes fast start
In contrast to our top four, one of the men in a share of fifth stumbled over the line. World Number Two Rory McIlroy bogeyed three of his last five holes to go from a share of the lead to three back. But this is a four time Major Champion and he knows exactly what is required on Sunday. "If I get off to a good start, especially how tough those first four holes are playing, if I can play those in a couple under I'll be right there," he said. "I would love to win here. I need to gather myself, get rested up and put everything I have into tomorrow."
Perfection from Paratore
Renato Paratore had an afternoon to remember as the Italian made it 25 holes-in-one for the season at the 13th. With a pin on the front edge and the water in play, it's a brave player who goes straight at it but there are no nerves in Paratore. The Italian launched a pitching wedge from 183 yards and saw the ball take three bounces before nestling into the bottom of the cup. "It was a really good shot, a really good line into the hole," he said. "When I saw the first bounce I thought maybe it could go in and I saw the ball go down, so it was amazing."
Samooja is a mover
Kalle Samooja gave his chances of keeping his playing privileges a shot in the arm after recording his lowest ever European Tour round in a 62. The European Challenge Tour graduate has two holes-in-one to one top ten so far in his rookie campaign but he made an eagle, seven birdies and a single bogey to fly up the leaderboard. "The Race to Dubai is kind of on my mind and kind of not," said the Finn. "I've been playing well so I don't want to overthink it. The last two weeks I've been up there and had one bad third or fourth round and dropped down. I'll just try to be patient. This week there has been three good rounds, I need to keep up the good work."
