Battling Darren Clarke has yet to discover whether a new all-work-and-no-play regime will rescue his golf career.
Clarke, now 247th in the world, has launched his season at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa this weekend.
But his chances of a first victory since three years before the tragic death of his wife Heather in 2006 have been hit by inconsistency.
Yesterday two birdies in the first two holes saw Clarke climb to within two shots of the lead but he then ran up two bogeys to fall out of contention.
Clarke, 40 next summer, said: "I had a tough year last year when I didn't play fantastically well for a few reasons. But I'm going to keep battling and one of these days it will come round again and I will be fine.
"I have had three weeks working really hard on all aspects of my game. In the gym, hitting balls and putting, just doing everything."
A third round 70 left Clarke at four under par, nine behind leader Ernie Els.
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JONATHAN PEARCE
ALEC STEWART
THE MOLE