Padraig Harrington suffered water torture today to leave his hopes of winning Europe's Order of Merit hanging by a thread.
The Dubliner went into lakes on both the 10th and 17th holes as he managed only a third-round 74 in the Volvo Masters at windy Valderrama.
Although Retief Goosen - whom he trails by less than £15,000 - was struggling as well, Harrington knew he needed better than a 54-hole 11-over-par aggregate of 224 to be in a position to capitalise.
Goosen, who is attempting to win his second successive money list crown, was also 11 over with three holes to play.
"I obviously need to improve substantially," said Harrington. "I hope it will be a different day tomorrow. I hit a few ropey shots out there, although the course was tough.
"I could have done a little bit better. If you are going well you can handle the wind."
Harrington birdied the fourth and fifth but they were sandwiched between two bogey fours, and after failing to get up and down from sand at the ninth he carved his drive on the next into water.
He came back with a birdie down the long 11th. But after tangling with the trees at the 16th and bogeying again, he pulled his second to the 17th left and his eight-iron third caught the bank in front of the green and rolled into the drink.
"The wind must have got up" was his only explanation afterwards.
Angel Cabrera leads the tournament by one shot on 6 under par. He parred the first two holes but then bogeyed the short third.
Colin Montgomerie has started his third round in blistering form and lies one shot off the lead after six holes.
Sergio Garcia, Robert Karlsson and Bradley Dredge - who shared second spot with Montgomerie overnight - had early problems.
Garcia bogeyed the second; Dredge double-bogeyed it, and Karlsson triple-bogeyed it before chipping for birdie on the next.
PA