Tiger Woods survived a mid-round wobble to regain the lead in the Dubai Desert Classic today.
Three bogeys in five holes - after none at all in the first 43 - handed the advantage back to Thomas Bjorn, but although the Dane had two birdies in the last six holes Woods had four.
Round in 68 after two opening 64s, the world number one goes into the final day on the 20-under-par mark of 196, with Bjorn 19 under and Ireland's Padraig Harrington 17 under following a 64 of his own.
One of Woods' bogeys came when he three-putted the long 10th from less than three feet.
He said afterwards: "I just didn't hit solid putts. But anybody who plays golf knows that those sort of things happen and I'm proud at the way I came back.
"I kept reminding myself that I was not five, six or seven behind but still right in there and that there was still a long way to go."
Bjorn had a 67, while despite all that had gone before Harrington was bitterly disappointed about parring the last two holes, where the tees had been moved forward to present real birdie opportunities.
Indian Jeev Singh is fourth on 16 under, while Ian Woosnam also shot 64 and with 18 holes to play is joint-fifth on 15 under with Harrington's fellow Irishman Paul McGinley, Londoner Brian Davis and Argentina's Angel Cabrera.
Wales' former world number one, without a victory for nearly four years, leapt into the hunt with a spectacular run at the start of the inward half.
Woosnam followed three birdies in a row with an eagle on the 550-yard 13th were he hit a three wood to four feet.
Colin Montgomerie was a stroke further behind following a 65 but said: "That was nothing special. It's playing very easy and three tees were forward _ I don't know why.
"It's good to have shot nine under for my last 21 holes and I made some putts today, but the course is set up for low scoring."
Woods looked set to take full advantage again with a hat-trick of birdies from the third but then came the hiccup. Lee Westwood finished the day 11 under, his 69 spoilt by a double-bogey seven on the long 13th.