With three holes to play the gap was three shots after Brier knocked in his second birdie of the day at the par-five 15th – that coming after he holed his 110-yard approach to the 13th for his second eagle following one at the long ninth.

However, Brier dropped a shot at the next hole and Dyson birdied the last to reduce the deficit to a single stroke.

Dyson, who won his maiden title in Indonesia in March, was satisfied with his performance and remained confident he could overhaul Brier tomorrow.

“The winds were very strong out there so you had to strike the ball well but out of the three days that is the best I have hit the ball,” he said.

“It was nice to pick up another shot on him [at the last] and there is only one shot in it now.

“I played really well the front nine. Back nine I did not miss a shot; I struck the ball well and missed one fairway.

“If the wind is like this tomorrow anything could happen. Monty (Colin Montgomerie) is not far behind and Soren Hansen is a good wind player. There is still a lot to play for.

“I’ve seen Monty shoot some unbelievable scores and he’s quite capable of doing the same tomorrow.”

Brier’s every move is cheered my the hundreds of Austrians desperate to see one of their one own win their home tournament.

And such a feat clearly means a lot to the 37-year-old, who said: “If I win this, next to the birth of my children and my wedding day it will be the greatest day of my life.”

Montgomerie and Hansen are both on nine under with the Scot dropping just one shot – at the 452-yard 10th – with three birdies completing a round of 69.

Once again he missed a host of putts and admitted he would be trying to sharpen up his form with the putter ahead of tomorrow’s final round.

“My long game is good. I’m driving the ball well and my iron play is great, I just can’t get the bloody thing in the hole,” he said.

“I don’t know why. I think I’m trying too hard over the ball. I have got to release my hands a bit and not squeeze it – let the putter head do the work because I’m doing the work and the ball has not gone in.

“My opportunities today were glorious and I never took any of them.

“My three birdies were a tap-in after a two iron at the eighth hole – a two-putt at the ninth and a five footer at 13 – nothing much else yet I had 10 or 12 good chances and did not take any of them.

“I’ll be on the putting green tonight – that is a first for me – and I’ll try to putt as well as I can drive the ball.”

Ireland's David Higgins is tied for seventh on six over par after shooting a 72, while Gary Murphy is three shots further back.

Paul McGinley carded a disappointing two over par 73 to be two over for the tournament. Stephen Browne is a further three shots back.