Els looks for number four in Dubai
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2008 Dubai Desert Classic | Round Three | 03 Feb 2008
Already the man with the most successful record at the Emirates Golf Club, Ernie Els takes a one shot lead over Henrik Stenson into the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic as the South African looks to win the event for the fourth occasion.
In order for him to do so, Els must hold at bay not only the defending champion, Henrik Stenson, and the game’s most consistent player at present, Lee Westwood, but another previous winner and a man who just happens to be the world number one, Tiger Woods.
Surprisingly, Woods let his one shot lead disappear on day three as Els produced an eight shot turnaround on the world number one, moving from four behind him to four ahead and the showdown tomorrow between Els and the next nine players, all within four shots of the lead, promises to be an intriguing day of golf.
A bogey by Woods at the final hole on day three, after finding the water at the reachable par five, might well have put Woods’ task on day four just out of his reach but a fast start by him in the fifth to last group of the day will have those yet to tee off with one eye on the leaderboard.
Els hardly put a foot wrong all day, making the turn in two under 33 and immediately adding an eagle at the 10th after his second finished just inches from the hole and a birdie at the 11th after a superb iron to a difficult flag.
Early on, Stenson looked to be the player to take it to the overnight leader Woods when he birdied his first three holes to move to 9 under and when Woods struggled with a bogey at the second, it was the Swede who had control.
A bogey at the 5th still had Stenson in the lead but he was then sharing it with Woods and Sergio Garcia although when Els pressed the accelerator early in the back nine it was he who took charge.
Only Stenson was able to stay in touch with Els as challengers came and went but even though both were unable to birdie the par five last they have separated themselves from the chasers with Els just ahead by one over Stenson, by three over Lee Westwod and Graeme McDowell and by four over Woods, Garcia, Martin Kaymer and others
“I’ve been coming a long time and always love the course,” said Els. “I have had a nice holiday in South Africa and feel very fresh and am keen to play and practice. My focus is on the Masters right now. I’m working on getting my ball flight going for that tournament and the Callaway equipment is working well with the square headed driver helping me draw the ball which I need around Augusta.”
Both Stenson and Westwood have genuine chances to chase down Els but so to do does Woods although he has proven this week that the air of total invincibility he had created last week with his emphatic win in San Diego and his opening round of 65 this week is perhaps not as real as it was imaginary.
Peter O’Malley and Scott Hend lead the Australians at five under but they are in 17th position. Marcus Fraser is 36th and Brendan Jones 52nd while Richard Green, who made the cut was absent from the field on day three having been forced to withdraw as a result of a flu virus.
