It was a long day but unquestionably a successful one for Ernie Els as the South African, in search of his fourth Dubai Desert Classic title, moved two shots clear going into the final round of the 2007 tournament at the Emirates Golf Club.
The 37 year old, also the course record holder on the Majlis Course courtesy of the sensational 61 he posted en route to his first victory in 1994, showed his fondness for the verdant oasis in the desert had not waned over the years with yet another round in the 60s, this time a 68 for a 17 under par total of 199.
It put him two shots clear of the two men who provided his playing partners for the third round, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson and overnight leader Ross Fisher of England, who were joined on the 15 under par 201 mark going into the final round by Jyoti Randhawa of India.
Els was one of the players who had to return on Saturday morning to complete his second round after torrential rain, allied to thunder and lightning, curtailed play on Friday. The South African had four holes to complete and did so in figures of one under par, that coming courtesy of a slightly fortuitous birdie on the 18th hole where his second shot flirted with the lake in front of the green before coming to rest six feet from the water’s edge.
However, there was nothing lucky about his move into pole position in the afternoon. Irked by a three putt on the first hole, the three time Major winner immediately bounced back with birdies at the second and third holes and when he also birdied the tenth and 12th holes, he was in a share of the lead with Stenson and Fisher.
But Els showed his class on the home stretch to get his nose in front, birdieing the 17th after an exquisitely clipped pitch shot ended a mere three feet from the hole and also birdieing the par five 18th after finding the green in two and two putting from 25 feet.
Els is, of course, not a man to count his chickens, but should he feel a twinge of complacency creeping into his game, he need only look over the collective shoulders of his three nearest challengers to see the menacing spectre of defending champion Tiger Woods.
The World Number One, without firing on all cylinders, has quietly gone about his business on the Majlis Course and his third round 67 which, like Els, featured birdies at the closing two holes, moved him to 14 under par 202 and still very much in the picture, a point conceded by the tournament leader.
“It is a great golf course and it will produce a good test tomorrow that is for sure,” he said. “We have a great leader board and the number one player in the world is in there too, so it is going to be great. But it is important to play your own game and concentrate on what you have to do. I have a good game plan.”
Still very much in the picture also is Stenson, an ambassador for Golf in Dubai, who would be a popular winner in these parts and who gave himself the chance to do just that with a third round 69.
“It is pretty bunched up and a lot of guys will have a chance tomorrow but the good thing is that I’m one of them,” said the Swede. “Obviously Woods is in there but Ernie is playing very well and I think he is going to be the one to look out for.”
Randhawa pushed himself into contention with an excellent 67 which featured the best finish of the day amongst the leading contenders, birdies at the 16th, 17th and 18th holes.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better finish and and making those three birdies was very satisfying I have to say,” he said. “I think I managed the golf course well out there and I didn’t take any unnecessary risks. As to whether I take any tomorrow, I’ll wait and see where I am after nine holes.”
Fisher, admitted a little trepidation in the company of Els and Stenson for the third round but the young Englishman held himself together admirably and the reward for his one under par 71 will be the company of Tiger Woods in the fourth and final round.
“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t shaking and a bit nervous at the prospect but I think I handled myself well today. You have just got to look around and see the crowds out there to realise it was one of the biggest days of my golfing career so to shoot one under par in that company was pretty good.”
Talking of Tiger Woods, it is appropriate perhaps that we leave the last word, going into the last round, with the great man.
“When you are chasing and coming from behind you can’t afford to make mistakes,” he said. “That’s the great thing about leading, you can slip up and still win the tournament. But coming from behind and given the golf course we have here, you have to make a bunch of birdies. I have to try and do that and hope it is enough.”
