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Sotogrande - Martin Kaymer's hopes of taking the world number one spot from Tiger Woods appear to be doomed despite the German's battling third round of 70 at the Andalucia Masters on Saturday.
Trailing overnight leader Graeme McDowell by 11 shots at the halfway stage, the 25-year-old Kraymer needed to fire in the mid to low 60s to retain a realistic chance of reaching his goal of finishing either first or second.
That would give him enough points to jump above Woods and Lee Westwood.
As it is, Kaymer goes into Sunday's final round with a three over par total of 216, nine shots adrift of joint leaders McDowell and fellow Northern Irishman Gareth Maybin who lead on six under 207.
Kraymer's struggles mean that England's Westwood is set to take the top ranking from the American who has held that position for the last five years.
Like Woods, Westwood is idle this week hoping to fully recover from a troublesome calf muscle injury that has dogged him for the last two months in time to play in the WGC-HSBC Champions Trophy tournament in Shanghai next week.
Despite once again failing to win a major title, Westwood has been the most consistent golfer in the world over the last 12 months and that will ensure that he rises above Woods to take the top spot for the first time in his career - any last day heroics from Kaymer notwithstanding.
Kaymer can also expect his lead in the European Tour's Race to Dubai slashed by McDowell.
Going into this week's tournament Kaymer led by almost one million euros from the US Open Champion, but McDowell would pocket half a million euros with a win on Sunday with three more tournaments to come.
The Irish pair of McDowell and Maybin battled throughout the third round, which began with McDowell two shots of his compatriot.
The US Open champion looked set to retain that advantage heading into Sunday's play, but a double bogey at 18 saw him slip back alongside Maybin on six under.
Maybin, who is looking for his first European Tour title, bounced back from bogeys on his first two holes with birdies at the third, fourth and ninth.
He parred every hole thereafter to complete a round of 70, as McDowell, who mixed five birdies with two bogeys and two double bogeys, hit 72.
Ireland's Damien McGrane and Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez share third place on two under following rounds of 70 and 71 respectively.
Spain's Sergio Garcia hit five birdies to card 69 and move into a tie for fifth with Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, who mixed four birdies with four bogeys in a 71.
Swede Niclas Fasth, in third position following a 66 in round two, moved out of contention with six bogeys on the back nine.
