Li Haotong fired two eagles in his first ten holes on Saturday to reduce Dustin Johnson's advantage at the top of the Saudi International powered by SBIA leaderboard to a single shot.
World Number Three Johnson carded three birdies and a single bogey in his first nine holes at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on day three to move to 13 under par.
But he had Li breathing down his neck after the 23 year old followed up his chip-in eagle at the first with two birdies and a double bogey before holing out for another eagle on the tenth.
Tom Lewis was the leader in the clubhouse another stroke back on 11 under after notching eight birdies in a flawless 62.
Johnson came into the day three shots clear of the chasing pack but soon saw his advantage cut to one when Li made a stunning eagle at the first.
The American got off the mark at the second, holing from 20 feet for a birdie before getting up and down from the bunker for a par at the third.
Johnson jumped to 13 under with a five-foot birdie putt at the fourth but gave the shot back when he carded a bogey at the fifth.
He then finished his front nine with a close-range birdie at the difficult ninth to reach the turn in 33.
Li reduced Johnson's lead to one when he chipped in for his second eagle of the day at the tenth to move up to 12 under.
