Defending champion Brett Rumford of Australia has fired a disappointing two-over par round of 73 to slump down the leaderboard after the third round of the European Masters.
Starting the day tied for the lead with Northern Irish teenager Rory McIlroy, Rumford's third round dropped him way down into a tie for 16th, seven shots behind his co-overnight leader.
McIlroy will take a four-stroke lead into the final round after a blistering third round of 66.
The 19-year-old had a 54-hole total of 13-under 200 to lead a group of six players bunched on 204.
McIlroy, who is chasing his first European Tour victory, struck a huge drive at the 543-yard first hole, followed by a 9-iron second shot to three feet to set up an eagle 3.
"I was a little nervous because I had never set off in the last group before but that calmed my nerves," McIlroy said.
Rumford also began his round with McIlroy by making eagle with a 40-foot putt at the first. But his short game let him down later, surprisingly for a player who chipped in on the first playoff hole to win last year.
The group on 204 included Robert Dinwiddie - who shot a day's best 64 - Christian Cevaer (65), Julien Clement (67) and Juan Abbate, Jean-Francois Lucquin and Alejandro Canizares, who all shot 69.
McIlroy had opened the tournament with a week's-best 63 but said this round was worth more.
"It was definitely more satisfying. To go out last, playing with the defending champion, and more than hold my own - the 66 was probably better under the circumstances," McIlroy said.
McIlroy slipped to a second round 71 which he said stemmed from poor iron play.
"I worked on it last night on the range and hit my irons quite nicely today," McIlroy said.
Dinwiddie has made a habit this year of shooting poor rounds followed by spectacular scores. At Wentworth in May, he opened with a 78 and followed with a 63.
Here the Englishman began with a 76 and followed up with two 64s.
"The eagle at the first was a lovely way to start and I birdied most of the other easy holes as well," said Dinwiddie, whose best finish this year was tied sixth at the Scottish Open in July.
Dinwiddie, like McIlroy, will be going for his first Tour victory tomorrow.
Starting the day tied for the lead with Northern Irish teenager Rory McIlroy, Rumford's third round dropped him way down into a tie for 16th, seven shots behind his co-overnight leader.
McIlroy will take a four-stroke lead into the final round after a blistering third round of 66.
The 19-year-old had a 54-hole total of 13-under 200 to lead a group of six players bunched on 204.
McIlroy, who is chasing his first European Tour victory, struck a huge drive at the 543-yard first hole, followed by a 9-iron second shot to three feet to set up an eagle 3.
"I was a little nervous because I had never set off in the last group before but that calmed my nerves," McIlroy said.
Rumford also began his round with McIlroy by making eagle with a 40-foot putt at the first. But his short game let him down later, surprisingly for a player who chipped in on the first playoff hole to win last year.
The group on 204 included Robert Dinwiddie - who shot a day's best 64 - Christian Cevaer (65), Julien Clement (67) and Juan Abbate, Jean-Francois Lucquin and Alejandro Canizares, who all shot 69.
McIlroy had opened the tournament with a week's-best 63 but said this round was worth more.
"It was definitely more satisfying. To go out last, playing with the defending champion, and more than hold my own - the 66 was probably better under the circumstances," McIlroy said.
McIlroy slipped to a second round 71 which he said stemmed from poor iron play.
"I worked on it last night on the range and hit my irons quite nicely today," McIlroy said.
Dinwiddie has made a habit this year of shooting poor rounds followed by spectacular scores. At Wentworth in May, he opened with a 78 and followed with a 63.
Here the Englishman began with a 76 and followed up with two 64s.
"The eagle at the first was a lovely way to start and I birdied most of the other easy holes as well," said Dinwiddie, whose best finish this year was tied sixth at the Scottish Open in July.
Dinwiddie, like McIlroy, will be going for his first Tour victory tomorrow.
