SYDNEY -- Bernhard Langer may be on the verge of ending one of the longest droughts in his professional career after storming into the lead at the Greg Norman Holden International on Saturday.

The 41-year-old fired a 4-under-par 69 to head into the final day at 14-under 205, one shot better than Anthony Painter of Australia.

Langer, the 1985 and 1993 U.S. Masters champion, came from five shots behind at the halfway stage of the third round at The Lakes to finish the day one shot in front.

Painter had a five-shot lead at the turn at The Lakes, but the advantage was wiped out in just four holes as he slipped and Langer mounted a spectacular back-nine charge.

"What can I say, I just hit too many loose shots," Painter said after his round of 72. "I'm still hopeful, but he's a world class player."

After a front nine of two-over 38, Langer found his touch and finished the more difficult back end in 6-under 31 with four birdies and an eagle.

Langer has not won since the Argentina Masters in November 1997, a long time for a player who had won in each of the 17 previous years and has 37 European Tour titles.

"I am very happy with the way I came back," Langer said after Saturday's round. "I'm definitely playing a lot better and I feel a lot more confident."

New Zealand's Michael Campbell and Australia's Justin Cooper both finished the day at nine-under with Michael Long of New Zealand a further shot back after shooting 66, the best round of the day.

Langer, who has won twice before in Australia including the 1985 Australian Masters, made his charge on the back-nine.

He birdied the 11th when he holed a putt of 12 feet, then sank another long putt on the 12th when Painter took a double-bogey after a wayward drive.

Painter dropped another shot on the 13th to lose the outright lead when Langer fired an eagle on the par-5, 488-yard 14th, whacking a 5-iron approach over a lake to within 10 feet of the pin.

After switching back to his old blade clubs at the end of last year, Langer has been playing well, including a tie for second last week at the Heineken Classic. But he said he was not taking anything for granted.

"Things went very well for me today, but you can't take anything for granted in this game," Langer said. "I've been around too long to start making predictions."

Painter, who has two Australasian titles to his credit, fought back strongly in the closing holes, with birdies at 16 and 17 to draw level again with Langer before the German edged a shot clear with a 12-foot putt on the last.