South Africa's Trevor Immelman set the pace in the third round of the PGA Championship when he fired an eight-under 64 to go 14-under and take a two shot lead in Wentworth today.
The 23-year-old, who scored his first European Tour victory earlier this season, had nine birdies on his card, a single bogey being his only blemish.
But Immelman will feel the heat on Sunday with a posse of some of Europe's biggest names chasing him, including his third round playing partner Ernie Els, whom the youngster paid tribute to after some good advice and guidance."Ernie has been a great help to me and I feel comfortable playing with him. A lot of the shots I hit today he taught me," said the young South African.
Immelman now holds the spot held last night by Ireland's Darren Clarke, who could do no better than level par to remain at nine-under today.
The Ulsterman was struggling all day, mixing birdies and bogeys as the earlier groups scored well ahead of his arrival on the first tee.
"If I hit a bad shot I really paid for it," said Clarke who had two double bogeys. "I will need a few miracles on the green tomorrow."
Els, the world number two, threatened to rip the course apart when he charged to four under after four holes thanks to two birdies and an eagle but then ran off three straight bogeyes at seven, eight and nine to slow down his momentum.
"I just went sleepwalking on those three holes," admitted Els. "I normally like that stretch."
But Els, suffering from a cold, came back with four birdies on the way home to be 11-under for the championship.
"I'm kind of there," said Els, before jokingly asking Immelman to take it easy on Sunday.
Sweden's Niclas Fasth carved out a four-under 68 to occupy second spot alone.
"My game was very steady but I wasn't scoring. Tomorrow if I keep bogeys off my card I have a good chance," said Fasth.
Ignacio Garrido, who has been undergoing major swing changes, shot a six-under 66 to tie Els in third spot and put himself right in the thick of things.
The Spaniard, who has missed four cuts this season in only eight outings, says the changes are starting to work.
"I expected for this year some results to come and little by little they are coming," he explained.
A flawless round of golf by 25-year-old Paul Casey shot him from two-under for the championship to 10-under.
"The best round I have played here," said the Englishman after his eight-under 64.
"I did exactly what I had to do. Before I teed off I set my sights at getting my name back up on the leaderboard before the leaders teed off," explained Casey who two weeks ago won the B and H International Open at the Belfry.
Casey finished in spectacular style, sinking a 45-foot eagle putt on the 18th.
Tied with Casey at 10-under are Sweden's Mathias Gronberg and Gordon Brand
Ireland's Paul McGinley made an impressive recovery from two early bogies on holes two and three to birdie seven, 17 and 18 to finish with a 71 on six under.
Ulsterman Ronan Rafferty had a mixed card of four birdies, two bogies and a double bogey to finish where he started on three under par.