Darren Clarke is just one round away from becoming Europe's leading golfer for the first time.
Clarke, eighth in the world rankings just one place behind Sergio Garcia, will move ahead of the young Spaniard if he completes a Japanese double tomorrow.
The 32-year-old Ulsterman trails local hero Shingo Katayama by just one shot going into the last round of the Suntory Open at Sabu Golf Club on the outskirts of Tokyo.
"Goodness knows what I might have shot if I'd been able to find the fairways," said Clarke after a third round 67 left him at 10 under par alongside home favourite Jumbo Ozaki.
"Some of my play bordered on rubbish, but I was still able to post a good score."
Clarke only hit five fairways, but still had only one bogey on his card. A rush of late birdies allowed him to keep in touch, and a couple of hours on the practice range afterwards cured his driving problems.
"I've found my timing again so now I'm looking forward to completing the job I came here to do which was to get as many world-ranking points as possible," said Clarke.
If Clarke succeeds it will be his fourth win of the season and his second in Japan following a success in the Chunichi Crowns event last spring.
PA