Pádraig Harrington birdied the last to go into the final round of the Rogers Charity Classic just two shots off the lead.
The Dubliner (52) shares fourth place on 11-under par at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club in Calgary after adding a six-under 64 to his opening 65.
Bidding for his third win on the PGA Tour Champions this season and the ninth of his career, Harrington must chase down Australian left-hander Richard Green, who shot a career-low eight-under 62 as he bids for a maiden PGA Tour Champions victory.
“Played better than yesterday,” Harrington said. “Scored well, so happy with my return. A tight leaderboard, so a low one needed tomorrow.”
Green leads by a shot on 13-under from Boo Weekley and New Zealander Steven Alker while Harrington is tied for fourth with Jason Caron and Ken Tanigawa, who aced the par-three 16th en route to a career-low nine-under 61 and a share of the course record.
“That was fun,” said Green, who went out in six under 29 before following birdies at the 10th and 11th (for a run of six birdies in a row) with a double bogey at the par-three 12.
“You know, it’s been in the making for a while now, a really hot round like that.
“I just haven’t been able to get the putter going, and today I did. The putts were going in just as I was seeing them, which was nice.”
After his mistake at the 12th, Green bounced back with birdies at the 15th and 18th to set the pace.
“It was a shame that 12 happened to me, but it would’ve been nice to progress on from that great run of birdies and continue on and try an even better score,” he said.
“It is what it is. It was good to recover from that anyway.”
After playing with Harrington and Miguel Angel Jimenez on Saturday, Green knows his old rivals from the main tour will be gunning for him today.
“I always knew when I first started on the Champions Tour that I’m playing with the best of my generation in the world,” he said
“You know, going to need to play really good golf to measure up against them. It’s been a lot of work and commitment over the last ten years to be here, and I’m pleased with the results so far.”
Darren Clarke made his second eagle three of the day at the 18th and carded a 64 to share ninth on nine-under, just four shots off the lead.