Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose were set to go head-to-head on the back nine at Augusta National as the Masters Tournament set itself up for a dramatic finale.
The duo entered the final day tied at the top at six under and while Garcia opened up a three-shot lead at one point, Rose reined him in as both men turned in 34.
That left them at eight under, three shots ahead of American Rickie Fowler and four ahead of 2011 champion Charl Schwartzel.
The Spaniard is going in search of his first Major Championship at the 74th attempt after 22 top tens and if he were to prevail, he would break his duck on what would have been the 60th birthday of countryman and all-time great Seve Ballesteros.
Rose already has a Major after his victory at the 2013 US Open and also claimed Gold in the Olympic Men's Golf Competition last year.
Garcia made the perfect start as he put his approach on the first to five feet and he nearly had a second gain after an excellent bunker shot on the second but missed a short putt.
He had no such trouble on the third as he holed an eight-footer that turned a long way right to left and his lead was two shots.
When Rose dropped a shot on the fifth after a tricky three-putt, Garcia led by three but the Englishman came roaring back.
He put his tee-shot on the sixth to four feet, his approach to the seventh to four and, when he took advantage of the par five eighth with Garcia missing a short birdie putt, they were tied at eight under.
Fowler had two birdies and two bogeys in his first ten holes, while Schwartzel was two under for the day after 12.
Thomas Pieters was also two under for his round after 12 holes to get to three under for the week alongside Paul Casey, Matt Kuchar and Ryan Moore.
