Australian Robert Allenby almost holed out with a driver to a par four as he and American Anthony Kim renewed battle at the Volvo World Match Play semi-finals in Spain.
Allenby was one up after nine of the 36 holes, while in the other match Masters Tournament champion Angel Cabrera led Ross Fisher by one after eight.
Allenby and Kim met in the Presidents Cup singles only three weeks ago, when Kim won five & three.
While Allenby went looking to avenge his defeat Kim was equally determined to give the 38 year old from Melbourne another drubbing.
Kim struck first when Allenby bogeyed the short second, but after both had birdied the long next Allenby fired straight at the flag on the 334 yard fourth, carried the lake with ease and saw his ball roll close to the hole.
Kim was just off the green and by only parring the hole was brought back on terms.
Cabrera won the opening hole "against the head" when he got up and down from left of the green and Fisher three-putted, but the Argentinian bogeyed the next and they then both birdied the third.
The quartet were playing for high stakes. Reaching the final guaranteed €450,000, with the winner taking home €750,000, while third place was worth €250,000 and fourth €200,000.
Cabrera was runner-up to Ernie Els the last time the event was played two years ago - like all previous editions that was at Wentworth - and owed his place in this week's event to Els opting for the Barclays Singapore Open instead.
After his success on the fourth Allenby needed only pars to win the fifth and seventh as well to go two up.
Cabrera, meanwhile, also went two up when Fisher ran up a double bogey seven on the fifth and bogeyed the next.
A 15 footer from the fringe of the ninth brought Kim back to only one down and Allenby then bogeyed the short tenth, while Cabrera lost half of his lead when he bogeyed the seventh. He was much the closer in two on the 352 yard ninth, but Fisher sank a 12 footer and it was shared in birdie threes.
