Bernhard Langer's 16th attempt to become the oldest winner in European Tour history might just be the one when he finally does it.
The 51-year-old German goes into the final round of the BMW International Open in Munich - not far from where he grew up - in second place only two behind South African star Retief Goosen.
If he does go on to take the 75th victory of his professional career Langer will look back on the 16th hole of his third round today as a key moment.
After driving into the trees on the reachable par four, the double Masters champion, five times a runner-up in this event without ever winning it, chipped far too strongly but then sank a birdie putt of around 70 feet.
Playing his first event in Europe for over nine months Langer, now the leading money-winner on the US Champions Tour, had seven birdies in all for a 65 that took him onto the 15-under-par mark of 201.
The age record he is trying to break is that of Ireland's Des Smyth, who was 48 when he captured the 2001 Madeira Islands Open.
This is the one Tour event in his home country that Langer has never won, but only two years ago he was second to Swede Niclas Fasth - and that after starting with a 76 and surviving the halfway cut with nothing to spare.
'This is as close as I could get to winning at home and it would mean a lot,' he said.
'It would also be very special with my son Stefan on my bag. We have only one more tournament together before he goes off to college.
'I'm at a stage where I just want to enjoy my golf. I don't want to grind any more and I don't have anything to prove - I've been very blessed.'
Goosen, who has led since his opening 64 on Thursday, shot 67, but should have been even further in front.
He missed a putt of barely a foot on the long sixth and drove into water for a closing bogey six.
England's Nick Dougherty did the same on the 18th tee - it has troubled him all week - and by also taking six fell into a tie for third on 14 under with Scotland's David Drysdale.
While Langer goes hunting one record tomorrow, Colin Montgomerie extended one he already held when he sank an eight-iron on the 156-yard eighth for his ninth Tour ace.
However, there was not a single birdie in his other 17 holes and after a 72 left him three under and out of the title hunt he said: 'It was the only good shot I hit all day.
'It looked good all the way, but I played rubbish apart from that. I never made a birdie, which is terrible.
'I made as many holes-in-one as an amateur I believe. My iron play has always been my strength.'
With a car only available on the short 17th, he was presented with a bottle of champagne for his feat, but it now looks certain that the Ryder Cup captain will complete a full year without a top 10 finish.
The last came when he was second to Spanish qualifier Pablo Larrazabal at the French Open last June.
As for 20-year-old Rory McIlroy, 10th in the US Open on Monday, he enters the final day joint 15th on nine under following a 69.
