Reigning Open champion Ernie Els survived a brief wobble to remain firmly on course to win his second Scottish Open title at Loch Lomond today.
Els began the day five shots clear and a red-hot favourite to claim the £366,660 first prize and his fifth victory of the season.
But the South African dropped only his third shot of the week on the second hole, three-putting from long range, and a birdie from playing partner Darren Clarke on the next reduced the gap to three shots.
Clarke could have piled on even more pressure on the fifth after a superb approach to 10 feet while Els found a greenside bunker, but the world number two got up and down for par and Clarke missed his birdie putt.
Els took full advantage of his reprieve on the next hole with his first birdie of the day, and another on the ninth while Clarke bogeyed saw the 33-year-old re-establish his five-shot cushion.
European Open champion Phil Price had taken over from Clarke in second place on 11 under, with Ian Poulter a shot behind Clarke on nine under.