Four-way tie as Els makes move in Dubai
BY iseekgolf.com | European PGA Tour | 2003 Dubai Desert Classic | Round Two | 08 Mar 2003
A uncharacteristic bogey on the last hole cost world number two Ernie Els the outright lead in the 2003 Dubai Desert Classic and plunged him back into a four way tie at the half-way point at the Emirates Golf Club.
While a number of more illustrious names struggled with the heat over the Majlis Course, Finland’s Mikko Illonen, David Lynn of England and overnight leader Alastair Forsyth of Scotland all moved to 134 ( 10) to share first place with Els going into tommorrow (March 8) third round.
But with just one hole remaining for Els yesterday, things looked a lot different as the South African held a one stroke advantage and appeared likely to stretch that coming up the 547-yard, par five 18th.
Twelve months ago, the Big Easy chanced his luck with a four iron from the sand on the same hole and walked away with an eagle. Yesterday, despite an easier lie, Els was not so lucky as he watched the same four iron send his ball into the lake in front of the green. The subsequent bogey was his first in 36 holes but seemed more of an inconvenience than an irritation.
“You can afford to go for things like that on the second day and sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t,” said Els. “If I pull it off, I can make a three. It was around 215 yards to the pin which is a normal four iron for me but I didn’t make a good swing and that was it. I hadn’t really thought about the fact that it was my first bogey in two days until you mentioned it!”
Playing well without being in top gear, Els remains the man to beat in the Dubai Aluminium sponsored event.
The only man to win the title twice and the current Desert Classic champion, Els has been on fire this year and with four wins from five tournaments under his belt – and last year’s Open title – he is playing as well as ever. But if any of the three other leaders are concerned by the thought of going head-to-head with Els then Forsyth, for one, isn’t showing it.
“Play with Ernie tomorrow? Why not?” said the 27-year-old from Glasgow. Asked if it would be inspiring or intimidating to be paired with Els for day three, the Scot replied: “Probably a bit of both. But it won’t be a problem to play with him. Of the’superstars’ he is probably the nicest of them all.”
Els may be the superstar in the £1.2 million event, but it was Ian Garbutt, a 30-year old pro from Doncaster, who set the course alight with a sizzling round of 63 (-9). Garbutt is still awaiting his first Tour title but yesterday he played like a true champion running in nine birdies to haul himself right back into contention on 136 (-8).
One shot ahead of Garbutt are two players who are no strangers to the top of the leaderboard. Former champion Thomas Bjorn and Masters winner Ian Woosnam are tied together on 135 (-9) after they both carded 66 (-6).
With the course giving up so many low scores, the cut off point was set at 143 (-1) meaning an early trip home for big names such as Andrew Coltart ( 2), Sam Torrance ( 3) and Anders Hansen ( 7).
There was also disappointment for the Gulf-based pros with rookie Simon Dunn ( 4) from the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, Ross Bain ( 5) from the Emirates Golf Club, and Bahraini amateur Nasser Yakoob ( 10) all failing to make the move into the final two days. It was particularly disappointing for Dunn who performed well on day one but who will have learned a huge amount for what looks like being a promising career.
Source – Dubai Desert Classic
