Danny Willett produced a stunning eagle on the second to jump out into a two-shot lead as the final round of the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai got under way at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
The Englishman entered the last day of the season in a share of top spot with Masters Tournament Champion Patrick Reed but a stunning three on the par-five second moved him to 16 under after four holes.
Adrian Otaegui made three birdies in six holes to sit at 14 under, a shot clear of Reed, Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat and English pair Jordan Smith and Matt Wallace.
Willett is looking for his first win since claiming the Green Jacket in 2016, and a victory in a Rolex Series event would well and truly announce his return to form.
In the battle to be crowned Europe's Number One, Francesco Molinari was virtually assured the Race to Dubai. Only a Tommy Fleetwood win can deny the Italian and the defending champion was seven shots off the lead with three to play.
Dean Burmester, Dylan Frittelli, Tom Lewis, Alex Noren and Lee Westwood were at 12 under.
Noren produced big final-round comebacks to win his first two Rolex Series titles and he looked in the mood again, birdieing the first and second and holing a ten-footer on the third to get 12 under.
The 36 year old dropped a shot at the fifth and was replaced in the group two off the lead with the second bearing fruit for both Lewis and Otaegui.
Wallace was the next man to birdie the second and that moved him into second alongside Smith who did well to save par on the first after finding the bunker.
Reed then dropped into that group as he failed to get up and down after hitting a poor second shot into the first, and Otaegui made it a four-man club with a birdie at the third.
Wallace three-putted the third to drop to 12 under and Aphibarnrat was also in that group after making birdies on the first, second and seventh.
Willett then burst clear, holing a stunning 47-foot double-breaker for eagle on the second and he was 16 under and three clear.
A 12-footer at the eighth moved Aphibarnrat to 13 under and he was joined there by Westwood who recovered from an opening bogey with birdies on the second and third.
Otaegui played a stunning approach to four feet on the fifth and leaped out into solo second at 14 under, with Wallace birdieing the same hole from five feet.
Westwood bogeyed the fourth to slip back and he was alongside Frittelli - who was five under for the day after 11 holes - and Burmester, who was level par through five.
Noren made a birdie on the seventh and Smith started his round with four pars.
