Lee Westwood took a one shot lead into the back nine of the final round of the Portugal Masters as the Englishman sought a first win in two years.
The World Number 11, who will overtake Rory McIlroy at the top of The Race to Dubai with a top-two finish at Oceânico Victoria Golf Course, began with four successive birdies at the start of his round and moved to 21 under with nine to play.
Overnight leader Retief Goosen went out in 38 to drop into a tie for third, with Francesco Molinari providing Westwood’ main competition - although the Italian suffered a setback on the seventh when he found the water.
Molinari was a shot off the pace, with Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and Germany’s Marcel Siem joining Goosen on 18 under.
Earlier, Alexander Noren had a hole in one en route to a ten under par 62 which propelled him up the leaderboard.
The 27 year old Swede, who won his first European Tour title at the Omega European Masters recently, leapt into the top ten after recording a 17 under par total.
Noren birdied his first three holes and turned in 33 but it was on the back nine where he really hit top gear.
He birdied the 11th, 12th and 14th before acing the 207 yard 16th.
Remarkably he eagled the next as well, hitting a 246 yard four iron over the water to six feet on the long 17th.
