Bogey of the season?

They say the scorecard never tells the entire story and that was certainly the case for Eddie Pepperell on Saturday at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

On the face of it the Englishman's 66 at Doha Golf Club does not stand out, with two players matching that score and two going even lower on another day of low winds in the desert.

But his bogey on the 12th - and the bounceback birdie that was to follow - was some of the most remarkable golf you will see all season.

Pepperell was leading by two and nicely placed when he hit his second shot into the rocks at the front of the green but got a nice bounce and a chance for an up-and-down.

He then hit the rocks again with his third and when he repeated the trick with his next shot to leave the ball back at his feet, he was staring at a seven and his lead was in danger.

An almost nonchalant swipe with his fifth saw the ball take one bounce and roll into the cup, leaving him still in the lead - a lead he would extend back to two shots with a wonderful long putt on the next.

"I hit two really good swings at the 12th and five minutes later you're scrambling to make bogey and on a third round when you're leading, that's where golf can get a little tricky mentally," he said.

"For me to hole that shot – I didn't really think I deserved bogey on that hole – it was a good bogey.

"I had hit a great second shot I thought at 12, 138 yards to cover the front of the green and we didn't feel too much wind so I went for a nine and I hit a perfect shot but obviously there was a bit of a breeze there. That's disappointing but it was a good swing and what can you do, sometimes a gust will just pick up, that's golf."

Further birdies on the 16th and 18th meant that Pepperell shares the lead heading into the final round on Sunday - maybe fate is on his side?