England's Brian Davis will take a one shot lead into today's final round of the Spanish Open at PGA Golf de Catalunya. But the 25-year-old from Enfield will be casting a few anxious glances over his shoulder as he goes in search of his first European Tour title in Girona.
Davis' third round of 66 with seven birdies and one bogey gave him an 11-under total of 205 and a one shot lead over Austrian Markus Brier with veteran Argentinean Eduardo Romero a shot further back.
Yet it will be the names of Colin Montgomerie and Sergio Garcia which will be uppermost in his mind after the high-powered duo remained in contention despite contrasting rounds.
Garcia fired a 66 that he described as "the easiest of my life" to be just five adrift, while every hole looked a struggle for Montgomerie as he battled with crowds, marshals and demons in his own game to card a 70.
At one stage Montgomerie became so frustrated by continual interruptions from the large galleries that he had one camera taken from a spectator, but he admitted: "It's just something you have to get used to."
Playing partner Gary Evans was prepared to stick up for the European number one. "You don't realise how much is going on when you're standing on the first tee trying to hit a shot.
"Three people shout `no cameras' and then just as you're into your pre-shot routine someone shouts `quiet please'. It's very difficult and Colin is an obvious target and I think he handles it quite well."
Montgomerie's woes on the green continued, yet he was still only three adrift on eight under alongside Spain's Carlos Rodiles and warned: "I've won from further back than that.
"I double bogeyed the 10th which stopped me, but got it back on the par fives. I hit the ball a lot worse than yesterday and scored one less so something is working."
Ireland's Gary Murphy also shot a 70 to leave him on a total of 214, nine back from Davis.
Davis is 29th on the Order of Merit with earnings of £75,000 already this year after an excellent start to his season.
He finished 10th and 16th in the two events in South Africa and then finished tied third in Portugal, despite ending up to his waist in mud in a ditch on the 16th, earning the unfortunate nickname of "Swampy".
That was his best finish to date, but he did play in the final group at the Deutsche Bank event in Germany last year with none other than Tiger Woods, finishing a creditable fifth behind the world number one.
"I don't know how I'm going to handle it because I've never been in this position before," he admitted. "I'll just do the same as the rest of the week, practice now, a workout, then dinner and bed.
"I think I'll need at least four under tomorrow, there are a lot of good players. If the wind gets up Romero will be the main challenger and Monty is only three behind. People say there is more pressure in the lead but I'd rather be one ahead than one behind."
Romero equalled the course record with a flawless 65 that included five birdies and an eagle and cited Jamie Spence's recent win in Morocco as his inspiration in his 14th full season on tour.
"I was very pleased by the victory of Jamie in Morocco. If he can win after a gap of eight years I can win after six," said Romero, whose last victories came in 1994.
Worthing's Gary Evans, second overnight, slumped to a 77 but had a legitimate excuse, even if he was reluctant to use it as such.
Evans' hotel room was broken into the night before and although his clothes, mobile phone and clubs were untouched, a personal computer worth £2,500 was stolen.
"That didn't exactly put me in the right frame of mind," Evans admitted. "I was up until 1.30 a.m. with the police.
"But I'm not making any excuses, I swung the club really badly and I just have to try and work it out on the range."
