Martin Kaymer, Europe's best putter last season, showed what he was capable of at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship in Miami.
A brilliant six under par 66 containing only 22 putts made the 25 year old German the early clubhouse leader in the third round at Doral.
Joint 22nd at halfway, Kaymer moved into a tie for third spot with Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who turned in a fine 33, and Australian Robert Allenby.
However, they were four adrift of Ernie Els, who made up for two bogeys with four birdies in his first eight holes to be one in front of fellow South African Charl Schwartzel.
Kaymer twice holed from off the green as he birdied four of the final five holes, although that stretch also included an unexpected three putt bogey on the 17th.
Already a winner in Abu Dhabi this season, he is currently eighth in the world.
"I've been working very hard on my putting for the last two weeks and so one day it should pay off," said The Ryder Cup hopeful, who was forced to take two months off last year after breaking three toes in a go-kart accident.
Titanium plates were inserted in his foot after that, but they will be coming out after the Masters Tournament next month.
"I thought it was going to be later in the season, but I can't go running, I can't do anything, so I talked to my doctor and he said he can take them out."
Els led Allenby by one at halfway, but Schwartzel became the closest challenger when he birdied four of the first six.
He joined the three-time Major winner out in front on three separate occasions, but Els responded each time as he reached 12 under.
Harrington missed a birdie chance from under six feet on the opening green, but made amends from similar range at the fifth and birdied the long eighth as well.
In-form Paul Casey eagled that hole with a 28 foot putt and was not out of the running for the title either.
After disappointing bogeys at the ninth and long tenth, birdies came on the 12th and 16th to put him joint sixth on seven under, four under for the round.
Els went two in front for the second time with his fifth birdie of the day on the long tenth, but Harrington was still well in touch three back after further birdies of his own at the 11th and 12th.
Casey's 68 left him in a tie for sixth on seven under and he was not out of it.
Second and fourth in his last two events - and three times a winner last season before tearing a rib muscle - Casey could go second in the world with victory.
"I feel I'm coming into the prime of my career," he said. "I've gone through ups and downs and I'm just coming off an injury."
