Tiger Woods conjured two eagles and a birdie to snatch the Open Championship lead after nine holes at sun-baked Royal St George's in Kent.
Overnight leader Davis Love III was still on the practice ground when Woods snatched his first eagle of the tournament at the long fourth but even he must have heard the roar.
There was even more drama three holes later when the world number one produced a dazzling bunker shot from around 40 feet at the par-five seventh which ran across the green before dropping for another eagle three.
He picked up his fifth shot of the afternoon at the ninth when he holed a curling 20 footer for a birdie three to go two under par, one clear of Denmark's Thomas Bjorn.
He has since dropped a stroke to share the lead with the Dane.
They were the only men below par at that stage.
Meanwhile, Mark Roe and Jesper Parnevik were today disqualified for an amazing scorecard blunder.
The two players failed to exchange scorecards on the first hole before the start of their third round at Royal St George's.
They therefore signed for an incorrect score when the mistake was discovered at the end of the round in which Roe, from Sheffield, had fired a superb 67 - equalling Nick Faldo's best round of the championship so far earlier today - to finish just one over par.
That was just two shots off the lead held by Tiger Woods at the time, and Roe had spoken earlier that he felt he was now a real contender for the Open title.
Paul McGinley was the only Irish challenger to gain ground on the leaders as hopes of a first winner in over 50 years faded. The Dubliner, who only just made the cut yesterday evening, carded an impressive 69 and is now six-over for the tournament and barely within touching distance.
Darren Clarke, however, did not enjoy his round despite recording a level par 71. The Tyroneman, one of the pre-tournament favourites, failed to live up to the expectation this week and at eight over his challenge appears dead and buried.
Likewise Padraig Harrington and Gary Murphy. Harrington wilted in the Kent sunshine and an uninspiring 74 leaves him at nine over. And despite showing an admirable measure of composure over the outward nine, Kilkenny golfer Murphy recorded five bogies on the way home to finish on seven over par.