Matt Fitzpatrick heads into the final round of the Italian Open with a one-shot lead, but he has Rory McIlroy and Australian Lucas Herbert among his nearest challengers.
US Open champion Fitzpatrick coped brilliantly with the blustery conditions at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club on Saturday and closed his third-round 69 with a birdie to lead on his own.
World No.2 McIlroy and Englishman Aaron Rai sit one shot behind Fitzpatrick in a tie for second on nine under after contrasting rounds, while Herbert is just two shots back in a three-way tie for fourth.
Halfway leader McIlroy mixed three birdies with three bogeys in his 71, which he finished with a five-foot birdie putt on the 18th.
Rai, meanwhile, fired two eagles and two birdies in a flawless 65 to make a huge move up the leaderboard.
Fitzpatrick, who bounced back from a front-nine bogey with birdies at the 10th, 12th and 18th, admitted it would be special to get his hands on the trophy.
He said: “It would mean the world. I love coming to play the Italian Open.
“I love the country. I love playing golf here. The fans are fantastic and to win tomorrow would be a great feeling.”
McIlroy, who like Fitzpatrick will be hoping to represent Europe when the Ryder Cup is hosted at this venue next year, knows he faces a tough task on Sunday.
He said: “I think national opens are pretty important things in our game. I’ve been quite fortunate that I’ve won a few of them.
“This would be another great one to add to the list. So big incentive tomorrow to go out and play well.
“I know it will be a tough day. Fitzpatrick is very solid. These are the sort of conditions that he relishes. He’s going to be tough to beat.”
Bendigo’s Herbert might even have been better placed but for a disappointing finish on Saturday after he’d gone through the first 11 holes in five under, including an eagle at the par-five ninth.
Bogeys at the 14th and 16th meant he ended up going round in a three-under 68, which leaves him alongside France’s Victor Perez and American Kurt Kitayama at eight under.
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