An albatross two for a course record 62 at Kingsbarns today continued Lee Westwood's remarkable recovery from the depths of despair.
Westwood, so full of doom and gloom only six weeks ago, produced the second lowest round of his European tour career to charge into the lead with a round to play in the €4.3million Dunhill Links Championship.
And the shot that ended his day's work said everything about the way things have turned round all of a sudden for the 30-year-old from Worksop.
From 218 yards at the 558-yard ninth on the Scottish links Westwood hit a four-iron that rolled up the tier in the green and into the hole for his first-ever albatross.
"Of course there was a little bit of luck that it went in, but it was a great stroke," he said. "It started two yards right of the flag and drew onto the target.
"There's an old saying that you make your own luck, but you've got to make the best of it when things are going your way and I'm absolutely delighted - I thought I'd go through my whole life without having one.
"I'm just enjoying playing well again. I didn't for three years and it's like turning pro again. I'm like a kid again."
Westwood goes into the final 18 holes of the celebrity pro-am at St Andrews one ahead of Ryder Cup teammate - and stablemate - Darren Clarke and also Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin.
World number two Ernie Els was only one behind as well with two to play at Kingsbarns, but bogeyed the 17th and double-bogeyed the last to fall four back. It left New Zealander Michael Campbell in fourth spot.
Westwood's was not the only albatross today. Denmark's Steen Tinning had one on the 516-yard third at Kingsbarns and it enabled him to survive the 54-hole cut with one shot to spare.
Colin Montgomerie also made albatross on that hole last year en route to finishing third. But despite a 65 on the same course today the 40-year-old Scot made his 12th early exit of the season.
Montgomerie needed a 64 to survive and would have got there with a birdie on either of the last two holes. But he could not manage it, missing by an inch from 15 feet at the 18th.
Gary Murphy finished on the same aggregate as Montgomerie after a disappointing 76 dropped the Kilkennyman back to four under and missed the cut by one shot.
Els' late collapse was a great boost for Clarke's hopes of catching him in the race for the European Order of Merit title. The South African leads by just over €500,00, but there is €705,093 for tomorrow's champion and Clarke said:
"I left three or four out there, but I played nicely again." Clarke, joint halfway leader with Dubliner Peter Lawrie and Swindon's David Howell, began birdie-bogey-eagle-birdie. Another bogey came on the short eighth, but then there were four more birdies for a round of 66.
Lawrie could only manage a 71 today but still remains in touch on 10 under. Defending champion Padraig Harrington found form with a 67 and moved up to eight under.
Elsewhere, the news was not good for the Irish contingent. Veteran Des Smyth closed with a 71 for a three under aggregate. Paul McGinley shot 72 to finish on one under - two shots away from making the cut.
As for Graeme McDowell (74) and Ronan Rafferty (70), they were never in contention and finished well down the field on four and six over respectively.
In the team competition Sam Torrance and his son Daniel, who has plans to turn professional himself on his 16th birthday next August, are joint second on 27 under.
And there is no doubt who has contributed most to that. Ex-Ryder Cup captain Sam missed the cut on four under on his own ball. Leading are Dubai Desert Classic winner Robert-Jan Derksen and fellow Dutchman Pieter van Doorne on 29 under.