South African Retief Goosen fired a superb nine-under-par 63 today to open up a European Tour record 13-stroke lead after the third round of the Johnnie Walker Classic.
The in-form U.S. Open champion, one clear of the field at the halfway stage, also set a course record at Lake Karrinyup Country Club on the day to finish at 15-under-par 201.
Compatriot and twice major winner Ernie Els, after a 71, and Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who carded a level-par 72, were left trailing in his wake in a share of second place on 214.
Goosen, last year's European number one, eclipsed the previous European Tour record for a 54-hole lead -- achieved by Tiger Woods in the 2000 U.S. Open, Tony Jacklin in the 1974 Scandinavian Open and Ken Brown in the 1984 Glasgow Open.
"I just see the course so well and I am reading the greens great," said Goosen, who is bidding for his eighth victory in Europe.
"But, over the past three weeks, I have been hitting the ball very well and this week there has been some good putting which has been holding me back a bit."
Goosen, 32, is now poised to win the title by some distance tomorrow and his two closest challengers, Els and Garcia, both believe he is playing a different course from the rest of field.
"I was playing the same course as Retief but I was just putting on different greens," said Garcia, after his third-round 72.
"He is playing unbelievable (golf) but I could have been at least seven under easily and five under for today."