PGA Tour rookie Jake Knapp has run off 11 birdies to seize control of the Mexico Open, an eight-under-par 63 giving him a four-shot lead going into the final round with a spot at the Masters on the line.
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US golfer Knapp began the third round in a four-way share of the lead and playing in front of the largest gallery while paired with local favourite Alvaro Ortiz.
The 29-year-old wasted no time making himself the target with a birdie-birdie start. And he was just getting warmed up.
Knapp closed out the front nine with five birdies over the last six holes for a 28. No one got closer to him than three shots for the rest of the day.
Sami Valimaki of Finland lost momentum on the back nine, finishing with birdie from the collar of the green on the par-5 18th for a 67, leaving him four shots back in outright second.
Knapp was at 19-under 194, with only Valimaki within six shots of him.
Back in a tie for third, Ben Silverman (63), Henrik Norlander (65) and Chan Kim (66) were seven shots behind.
Ortiz didn't make a birdie until the 18th hole and had to settle for a 73, leaving him 10 shots off the lead.
More than the Masters is at stake for Knapp and Valimaki, another PGA Tour rookie who earned his card this year from being among the leading 10 players on the European tour.
Victory comes with a two-year exemption, a spot in the remaining five $US20 million ($A30 million) signature events and the PGA Championship.
Knapp has spent four years on the Canadian tour and three years on the Korn Ferry Tour, where last year he finished high enough on the points list to earn a PGA Tour card.
"I've been playing professional golf for quite a while," he said.
"I've had some good stuff and some bad stuff. It will definitely all be a part of it."
England's Matt Wallace, the other player who shared the 36-hole lead, had a 71 to fall eight behind.
Of the leading five players going into the final round, none has won on the PGA Tour.
Aaron Baddeley, the only Australian to make the cut, finished with a birdie on the 18th to card a third round 69 and go to six under and a tie for 27th.
Australian Associated Press
