Graeme McDowell booked his place into the semi-finals of the Volvo World Matchplay Championship with a hard-fought victory over Sergio Garcia.
The duo traded holes throughout their thrilling match, which went all the way to the 19th hole before McDowell finally emerged victorious, joining Scot Paul Lawrie, Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and local hope Rafael Cabrera-Bello in Sunday's semi-finals at Finca Cortesin.
Garcia won six holes on the day and McDowell seven, trading blows throughout, proof of just how close and eventful the match was.
In the end it came down to a missed four-footer for par from Garcia, giving McDowell a reprieve after he missed a five-footer of his own for the match on the last.
"It wasn't exactly El Clasico and I feel like I dodged a bullet there," said McDowell.
"I kind of resigned myself to the fact that I was going home, but sometimes you have to win ugly and sometimes to win you need what just happened to me. I count myself lucky."
The quarter-final match between Lawrie and South African Retief Goosen was a one-sided affair, with Lawrie securing the win on the 13th hole, having gone six-up.
This is Lawrie's 500th European Tour event and it is turning out to be a memorable one. A win this week would also being him firmly back into the Ryder Cup picture.
"I'm not thinking about there even if I win this week," he insisted. "A lot of things could happen and a lot of tournaments to be played. Two or three guys could go on an unbelievable run and win two or three events, and you could easily get past.
"If things go well tomorrow, then obviously it's a step closer for me, but that's all it is.
"I think one of the big disappointments of my career is I've only played once in it, so I'm keen to get in this time - especially with Ollie as Captain, I think he's going to be magnificent as Captain."
Lawrie will play Nicolas Colsaerts in the semi-final, who brought American Brandt Snedeker's run to a close with a 4&3 victory.
"He's a fierce competitor," Colsaerts said of Lawrie. "I played with him in the last round in Qatar last year. He's not going to give you anything, so it's your job to play well and go get it yourself."
McDowell will face Cabrera-Bello in the other semi-final, after he won 3&1 over fellow Spaniard Alvaro Quiros in his quarter-final match.
golf365.com