Tommy Fleetwood remains in the hunt for his PGA Tour win in almost a year at the RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.
The Englishman sits two shots back from youngster Ben James, a former US collegiate start making his professional debut who is the clubhouse leader in a field with plenty of star power.
The likes of Brooks Koepka, Shane Lowry and Robert MacIntyre all remain close heading into the weekend, with defending champion Ryan Fox also in the mix.
Fleetwood will be aiming to banish the ghosts at the same tournament he lost in a play-off three years ago, when home favourite Nick Taylor sealed victory on the fourth extra hole with a stunning 72-foot eagle putt.
Koepka also sits a couple of shots back, behind a group of five players that includes Sam Burns, who played in the final group at the Memorial last week and tied for fourth.
"I feel really close," said Koepka, when asked if he's getting back to his best after leaving LIV Golf back in December.
"The ball striking probably hasn't been what I would say it's been all year. Driving it as well, maybe not as great this week. The putting has been great. So I'm happy with it, I'm excited, and hopefully it continues this week."
Fellow Americans Jackson Suber and Keith Mitchell, Sweden's Jesper Svensson and China's Haotong Li also all sit a shot off the lead.
Ireland's Lowry is still in the hunt for his first win of the PGA Tour season and sits in a tie for 19th, four shots behind the leader, alongside Scotland's MacIntyre who went four under for the day to move to six-under par overall.
Everyone will have to catch James though, who is making just his 10th PGA Tour start and his first as a professional golfer.
He set the tone with an eagle at the par-five first, draining a 22-foot putt before carding a bogey-free 63 at Osprey Valley. The impressive round left him heading into the weekend without a bogey in his last 33 holes.
Asked how he would sleep and what his mindset would be heading into the final two rounds, James offered a disarmingly honest response.
"I've got no clue because I've never been in this position, so I'm very excited to find out," he said. "One thing I wanted to do I was, like, let's try and get in that last group.
"I just want to feel what that feels and kind of just see what happens out there in that situation.
"Being so young, I'm just excited. I have no expectations. I'm going to play the best I can like I did the last two days."
Watch the third round of the RBC Canadian Open on Saturday live on Your Site Golf with early coverage starting from 12pm. or .
