A part-time magician is the biggest threat to Lee Westwood's hopes of pulling off the first half of a double worth over £1 million today.
The 25-year-old Englishman goes into the final round of the Standard Life tournament at Loch Lomond joint leader with Swede Dennis Edlund, who describes himself as a 10-handicap magician.
At the end of a day interrupted for over two-and-a-half hours by a thunderstorm which flooded the course, Westwood (68) and Edlund (67) were on the seven under par mark of 206, three clear of Scot Ross Drummond and Swindon's David Howell.
Joint fifth a stroke further back are defending champion Tom Lehman (69), Derrick Cooper (67), Australian Stephen Allan (72) and another Swede, Klas Eriksson (65), while European number one Colin Montgomerie is in the group five behind.
Asked if he had any magic, the super-confident Westwood answered: "Only with my putter."
The new sponsors of the event have offered a £1 million bonus to anyone who wins their title and then goes on to become British Open champion at Royal Birkdale eight days later.
With the three closest challengers to him all seeking their first tour victory, Westwood is the clear favourite to give himself that chance.
Just before the stoppage, he missed from only 18 inches but on the resumption at 7.15 p.m. he smashed a drive onto the green at the 345-yard 14th and two-putted for birdie.
Edlund, runner-up in last year's English Open after nearly quitting the game through lack of success, birdied three of the last six holes.
Halfway leader Drummond, invited to the event only last Friday and without a European tour card, shot 72 to keep alive the chance of a fairytale win on home turf.
And for once in his life Montgomerie would be happy to finish second.
Montgomerie produced a dazzling double-birdie finish in the rain to revive his own victory hopes but said: "I'd like Ross Drummond to win.
"I'm from Troon and he's Prestwick and I've known him for a long, long time. I used to go and practise at Turnberry when he was an assistant down there.
"He's obviously had a difficult time these last few years and it's great he's been given the opportunity to play this week.
"Sure I feel for people in his position. It's not just a bad year, it's the loss of a job if you don't keep your card.
"I've been very fortunate in that I've never been in that position. But all credit to him for taking full advantage. I don't mind if he wins at my expense.
"If I win, fine, but I would almost prefer him to - I've got the Open coming up." But so will Drummond if he does indeed triumph.
Six behind at halfway, Montgomerie's deficit became eight when he double-bogeyed the second, his approach rebounding off the crowd into the trees.
Four birdies in the next six holes were the perfect response and after a bogey at the 12th, he saved par with a 20-footer on the 15th after driving into a hazard and taking a penalty drop, then sank 15-footers at the short 17th and 430-yard 18th - the latter after driving into sand.
He added: "I'm right back in it. I'm in contention, which is where I try to be with a round to go every week."
On the course Montgomerie and playing partner Jose Maria Olazabal (71 for one under) are agreed is the best on the European Tour, first day pacesetter Ian Woosnam fell back to one over with a 74.
Sergio Garcia, the hugely promising 18-year-old British amateur champion from Spain, had an even worse day. A 76 removed any chance he had of causing a sensation and he will resume today on five over 218.
