Golf:England's Chris Wood, whose European Tour near-misses include the 2009 British Open at Turnberry, finds himself the man to catch entering the final day of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
The 25-year-old from Bristol burst from two behind to three ahead in Doha with a spectacular third round 64 and stands at 15 under par overall.
Ryder Cup stars Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer were among the four overnight leaders, but they managed only 70 and 72 respectively - Garcia after going in the water with his third shot to the par-five last and taking six.
The other two halfway pacesetters, Australian Marcus Fraser and Portugal’s Ricardo Santos, fell back as well and joint second now are PGA champion Simon Khan, also round in 64, New Zealand’s 2005 US Open winner Michael Campbell and Swede Alex Noren.
Highlight of Wood’s round was an eagle on the 548-yard 10th. The 6ft 5in world number 142 had already notched up five birdies, but an eight-foot putt lifted him clear of the field and there he stayed.
After a three-putt bogey at the 12th he came back with a six-foot birdie putt two holes later and pitched even closer on the 307-yard 16th.
Although he is chasing his first victory on his home circuit Wood did capture the Thailand Open last August.
He was fifth in the 2008 British Open as an amateur, but it was 12 months later that the Claret Jug was agonisingly close. He shot a closing 67, but bogeyed the last and missed the play-off between Tom Watson and Stewart Cink by one.
Last of the players who made the cut in Abu Dhabi last week, Wood told Sky Sports: “I’m very excited. Two behind today (at the start) I thought as long as I kept myself in the mix I was going to be really looking forward to the last round, but leading hopefully gives me a bit of a cushion.
“I wouldn’t say it was one of my best rounds, but I played very solid and was giving myself loads of chances.”
Khan resumed down in 31st place, but birdied six of the first seven and eight of the first 13 holes to be two in front.
The 40-year-old from Essex, a lowly 486th on the world rankings, had to settle for parring in from there, but said: “It’s been a tough couple of years since winning at Wentworth and it’s amazing that the feelings start to come back quickly.”
Campbell knows all about slumps. Just six months ago he was not even in the world’s top 900, but he has fought his way back to 264th and after a third successive 68 commented: “The confidence is increasing every day.”
Noren’s 66 contained four birdies in the last seven holes and that relegated Garcia to joint fifth with South African Branden Grace.
Kaymer is now down in a tie for 11th and has six shots to make up, while world number four Justin Rose’s 71 left him nine adrift in joint 31st.
Damien McGrane is the best of the Irish on six under after he carded a 70 in the third round, but Michael Hoey slipped back to three under with two double bogeys in his round of 74.
Peter Lawrie’s 71 left him on two under, with Gareth Maybin a shot further back after a 72.
