Tommy Fleetwood has a soft spot for Scotland.

So, too, do his parents, Sue and Pete. "They would move here in a heartbeat if they could," he said. "It's such a nice place and I feel comfortable in it."

That much was clear during the third round of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles yesterday as the 22-year-old Lancastrian posted a five-under-par round of 67 that moved him into a share of the lead with Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez.

But then, as Fleetwood admitted, Scotland has been a happy hunting ground for him in the past, too. Four years ago, he announced himself to the golfing world when he reached the final of the Amateur Championship at Turnberry.

That same year, he also won the Scottish Strokeplay Championship at Murcar. In the days when he entertained thoughts of becoming an actor, he even fitted in a performance as Macbeth.

On his perambulations around Perthshire today he will presumably not be fretting about the prospect of Birnam wood disappearing over the horizon or a spot of knife crime from Macduff. And if he is haunted by anything it is less likely to be Banquo's spectral return than the thought of his messy finish to yesterday's round. Coming to the last, where birdies have been common all week, Fleetwood carved his shot off to the right and found his way blocked by a stand of trees.

As he admitted later, his troubles could have been worse at that particular part of the course, but he was still forced to chip out sideways to get a look at the green.

In the end, he carded a bogey, his third of the day, when he let a six-foot putt slip past the hole. But he was happy to take the medicine. "I did well to get to six feet for par," Fleetwood said. "That could have been anything up to a 10 given where I hit it off the tee."

Fleetwood has never won on the European Tour, but he has spent this year, his second on the circuit, grinding out some decent results and picking up some better-than-decent cheques.

With more than €300,000 in the bank, he holds 65th place in the Race to Dubai, and victory at this event would be a further boost for the confidence levels that have been growing for the past few months.

It is all so different to last year, his rookie season, when he struggled to get to grips with life as a touring pro. "The first half of it was horrible," he said. "I didn't really know that many people. I'm not crying about it but, yeah, it was hard. That's just what it's like.

"That's why not many people retain their card the first time. But I ended up playing great for the second half of the year and I've just carried on."

Gonzalez has overcome a few adversities of his own in the past 18 months as well, losing both his parents and his father-in-law.

His third-round 70 was a step back from the matching 65s he had posted over the first two days, but it was still good enough to keep him at the top of leaderboard beside Fleetwood.

The Argentine has a score to settle with this place, too, having been disqualified from this event in 2011 when he inadvertently signed for the wrong score at the end of his second round.

The best round of the day was produced by Stephen Gallacher, who led the home charge with a splendid eight-under 64 that propelled him from a tie for 29th after 36 holes into a tie for fourth after 54. Gallacher's performance was all the more remarkable as he has been struggling with a back injury all week.

The 38-year-old from Linlithgow was even obliged to abandon his warm-up for yesterday's round after hitting just a few balls on the range, heading for the physio truck instead.

"If it was anywhere else I probably wouldn't have played," said Gallacher, who had aggravated the injury while washing his car earlier in the week. "But because I know the course so well and I can stay at home in my own bed it's a lot easier. I'm delighted now. I'll give myself a bit of rest and have a go tomorrow."