Rory McIlroy stormed into contention at the Qatar Masters with a brilliant bogey-free six-under-par 66 to sit just four shots adrift of leader Johan Edfors.
Big-hitting Dubai-based Swede Edfors, who began the day with a two-stroke cushion, carded a 69 to remain at the top of the leaderboard on 12-under, with second-placed Andrew Coltart a shot clear of in-form Henrik Stenson (67) and South Africa's Charl Schwartzel (69).
World number eight Adam Scott matched Coltart's 65, the Australian's an impressive bogey-free effort, to sit at eight-under alongside McIlroy, Ross McGowan (69) and Johnnie Walker Classic champion Anton Haig (69).
Colin Montgomerie (69) and Frenchman Christian Cevaer (68) sit a shot further back.
McIlroy, 18, made a dream start after chipping in for an eagle three at the 591-yard first before quickly picking up another stroke with a long putt at the par-three third.
He missed another chance from seven feet at the next but reached the turn in four-under 32 after judging a 40-foot uphill putt at par four seventh to perfection despite finding rough off the tee.
It could have been even better for the Walker Cup star had an eight-foot birdie putt at the par-three eighth not come up agonisingly short. But after again coming close at the par-five ninth, McIlroy began the back nine with a birdie four.
McIlroy missed several birdie chances from around 20 feet coming home and only picked up another stroke at the par-four 16th, while he avoided his bogey fate of the last two days at the last despite hitting his second shot behind the temporary television studio.
"It was great way to start and then I holed a long one on the third, missed a chance on four from seven feet but then holed another long one at the seventh to keep it going," he said.
"I made a couple on the back nine with no blemishes on the card so it was a pretty good day."
On his playing partner Scott he said: "We definitely played off each other and raised our game and made it look a bit easy with not a bogey between us.
"Adam is a fantastic player and when I saw the draw I was very excited to play with him. I was up with him for much of the round but he got me on the last.
"I have to go out tomorrow and play the same game, take it one shot at a time. I probably need a pretty similar score to stand a chance."
Scott, 27, added: "It took me a while to get going and I held on to Rory's coat-tails as he went roaring off. After he holed out for eagle at the first I thought 'This kid is really good'. He struck the ball beautifully, it remained me of myself when I came on tour.
"He has the ability the way he hits the ball to go out and shoot a low score so if he gets the putter going he could run away with it."
As the entire field benefited from much calmer conditions after two days of blustery wind in Doha, another former Qatar champion Paul Lawrie sits was seven under after signing for a 66, joined by Damien McGrane (66), Steve Webster (67), Nick Dougherty (70) and David Howell (71)
Luke Donald (68) is a further shot back alongside Lee Westwood, who slipped down from joint second place overnight with a one-over-par 73.
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