Denmark's Thomas Bjorn has a two-shot lead going into the final round of the BMW International Open in Munich.
Bjorn carded a third-round 66 for an 18-under-par total as he seeks to regain the title he won two years ago.
Ryder Cup team-mate Bernhard Langer added to the good news for European captain Sam Torrance by recovering from a bout of food poisoning to card a 67 to lie joint second alongside Southampton's Richard Bland.
And Torrance, who ironically pulled out after nine holes of his first round with a back injury, also saw his first reserve Ian Poulter card a 70 to be a shot further adrift alongside Kent's Jamie Spence.
"I hit a few loose shots early on but I did all the things I could do to keep people at bay," said Bjorn, who holed seven birdies and just one three-putt bogey at Nord-Eichenried.
"I feel comfortable again for the first time since the middle of last year, it's been a while. It's nice to be in the mix and feel comfortable about it again. It's not something that happens that often.
"I feel my game is coming together and it's nice at this stage of the year. It's an important time and all the hard work I have done is starting to benefit me.
"It's important for me to get where I feel I should belong in the Order of Merit and the world rankings. I don't think I belong where I am (27th and 38th respectively), but I haven't played well enough.
"And with the Ryder Cup in mind it's nice to feel the game is coming along."
Bjorn could be asked to partner Langer at the Belfry later this month and the Dane added: "For any player to play with Bernhard would be great.
"He is a very professional athlete and it's good for anyone to go on a golf course with him because things are going to be kept at a very normal level.
"Things are never going to get away from him."
Third round totals
198- Thomas Bjorn (Den) 68-64-66
196- Bernhard Langer (Ger) 64-69-67, Richard Bland 65-66-69
201- Ian Poulter 65-66-70, Jamie Spence 67-64-70
202- John Bickerton 67-69-66, David Lynn 67-67-68
203- Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 66-72-65, Joakim Haegmman (Swe) 69-67-67, David Howell 70-65-68, Philip Golding 69-65-69
204- Anthony Wall 70-69-65, Paul McGinley70-68-66, David Park 68-67-69
205- Santiago Luna (Spa) 71-69-65, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 71-69-65, John Daly (USA) 70-70-65, Simon Khan 68-71-66, Peter Senior (Aus) 70-68-67, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 70-67-68, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 68-68-69, Rolf Muntz (Ned) 70-65-70
Selected
208- Justin Rose 70-67-71, Padraig Harrington70 70 68
209- Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 69-70-70
211- Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 71-69-71