Germany's Alex Cejka shot a seven-under 64 to take a slender one shot lead in the Lancome Trophy near Paris today but sitting on his shoulder is a hungry Nick Faldo.
Faldo, who's last win on the European Tour was six years ago, is now a man with a new mission - winning his place back in the European Ryder Cup team.
"Trying to make the Ryder Cup in two years time is a great goal. The captaincy can wait. After watching the Cup two weeks ago I really got the urge to be part of it again," said Faldo.
So determined is he to make the team he has put his growing business affairs on the back burner.
"It makes sense," he explained. "The business side was wearing me out so I have left the business to the businessmen. I will take more of a backseat.
"I know I can give the Ryder Cup one more go."
With a bit of luck Faldo could have been alone on top of the leaderboard.
Faldo was seven-under with three to play and looked set to go eight-under but his birdie putt lipped out at the 16th.
Ryder Cup hero Colin Montgomerie looked to be heading for the weekend off when he quickly went three-over for nine but then the burly Scot rediscovered the form that saw him equal the course record at St Andrews last week when he come home on a flawless five-under 31 to be two-under for the round.
Defending champion Sergio Garcia got off to a solid start with a four-under 67 to be only three off the lead.
The 22-year-old Spaniard played bogey-free golf. His playing partner Justin Rose could not say the same. Rose was three-under at one stage but a bogey, bogey finish took him back to one-under.
Scotland's Dean Roberston, coming back after suffering from cronic depression, put a smile back on his face with a six-under 65.
"Delighted," enthused the 32-year-old. "I'm swinging the club better than I ever have and to go out and shoot some good golf is a bonus."
Earlier this year Robertson became so depressed he was on the verge of quitting the game altogether. In the past six months he has only played three tournaments, failing to make the cut in any of them.
"My target here this week is to make the cut," he admitted. "I am now thoroughly enjoying my golf and this week I am playing with a new set of clubs. Today I only hit three bad shots and only dropped one shot."