Shane Lowry will take a four-shot lead into the final round after wowing the crowds with another spectacular performance on day three of the Amgen Irish Open to put himself in pole position to win his home event for a second time.
Lowry started the day three strokes ahead but was caught at the summit by playing partner Jacob Skov Olesen as they reached the turn at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, Doonbeg, Ireland.
But, roared on by bumper crowds, the Irish Ryder Cup star caught fire on the back nine, combining birdie putts with a series of clutch par saves to go four clear at the summit and reach 16 under par with a 65 that contained six birdies and a single bogey.
Olesen was Lowry's nearest challenger on 12 under after carding an eagle and three birdies on the front nine before making eight straight pars and a closing bogey.
With US President Donald Trump watching on, Lowry and Jacob Skov Olesen opened up a big gap between themselves and the chasing pack, with their next closest competitor Joaquin Niemann on nine under.
Lowry extended his lead to four shots with a superb birdie putt from 31 feet at the first on Saturday before having to settle for pars on the second and third, after creating further good chances in a confident start to the round.
A two-putt birdie on the fourth was followed by his first bogey of the day at the fifth and despite picking up a shot at the eighth, heroics from Olesen meant the pair were tied at the top on 13 under as they got to the turn.
But Lowry was soon back in front courtesy of a four-foot birdie on the tenth and he made a vital par save from eighth feet at the next to stay ahead.
He produced more magic on the 12th as he sent his approach from the rough to nine feet before rolling in the birdie effort to move two clear on 15 under.
Successive par saves followed on the 13th and 14th before a four-foot birdie at the 15th stretched his lead to three.
And he produced three more outstanding saves at the 16th, 17th and 18th to take a four-shot lead into the last round.
The 39‑year‑old, who famously won this event as an amateur in 2009, said: "Any time you play links golf in 15, 20-mile-an-hour winds - and it got a little cold at the end there - it's going to be hard and you're going to have some testers for pars.
"I felt like I did a great job today of just staying in the moment and playing my own game.
"I had so much fun out there on the back nine. The crowds were incredible. They cheered me on the whole way home and hopefully will do the same tomorrow.
"I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Final group, leading my home tournament, it's a nice place to be and, yeah, it should be fun."
Speaking about making nine single putts on the back nine, he added: "I'm normally the one watching other people do it, so why not me sometimes? It's nice to know I'm seeing my lines well and starting the ball where I want and they're going in and hopefully that stays that way for another 24 hours."
