A double bogey on the last saw Richard Green fall back into a three way tie for the lead with fellow Australian left-hander Nick O’Hern and World Number Eight Retief Goosen of South Africa going into the final round of the tenth Commercialbank Qatar Masters.
Defending champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden is only two shots back on ten under par after a 70 alongside American Edward Michaels, who shot a third round 69 in what his first tournament for a year after undergoing surgery on his shoulder. World Number Five Ernie Els, who came from five behind to win two years ago, will be looking for a repeat performance as he looms only four off the pace after a 68.
Green, so in control for the first three days, stood on the 18th tee at Doha Golf Club holding a two shot lead over his playing partners but made his first mistake of the week by driving into the rocks. A penalty drop followed and although he reached the green in two more blows, he three putted from distance for a round of 71 and 12 under par total of 204.
Just four holes earlier Goosen had been five adrift, but the double US Open champion came storming home with three successive birdies from the 15th to match Green’s total with a 71.
Likewise O’Hern, despite two birdies in his first two holes, had fallen off the pace after giving both early shots straight back but he rallied well on a tough scoring day, coming home in three under par 33 for a 69 to make it a three-way tie at the top.
“I needed to finish with three birdies in the last four holes to have any sort of a chance,” admitted Goosen. “The 15th, 16th and 17th, are the easy holes on the back nine because they were playing downwind. So that worked out nicely according to plan.
“I didn't quite expect to be sharing the lead. I was expecting to maybe two behind. Unfortunately Green man hit in the rocks on the 18th and made double. It was tough out there today.”
After a day playing alongside two left-handers, Goosen admitted he felt like one himself at one stage with some of the poor shots he hit, and it took some getting used to standing on the wrong side of the tee. But having got over that hurdle, he can set his sights on winning his first European Tour title since 2005.
“My record has not been all that great. I've won one tournament in the last two years and it's not exactly that I've been playing that well. For all of us tomorrow there's going to be a bit of stress in trying to perform and do well.”
For Green, the goal is his first win since the 1997 Dubai Desert. Over the past decade he has knocked on the door countless times, finishing runner-up six times and claiming numerous top fives, and but for his blip on the last, he would be in pole position to claim the famous ‘Mahara’ trophy’ in the event jointly sanctioned by The European Tour and the Asian Tour.
“I played pretty nicely from the word go,” said Green. “Gathered a nice bit of momentum and played pretty nicely, but it was just a bit of a shame about the last hole.”
O’Hern has his own hurdle to clear as he too has come so close to winning in the past without crossing the line. O’Hern also has six runners-up finishes to his credit in the last four years on The European Tour but his victory in the Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship last month on the Australasian Tour has instilled a new confidence.
“I feel pretty good about it because I won two tournaments ago,” said O’Hern. “So I'm feeling good going into tomorrow plus I'm playing well. You can't ask for more to be going into Sunday with the lead and playing well. If you can do that, you've got a real good chance.”
Stenson is lurking ominously on a course he has finished second and first the last two years after a 70, and despite a frustrating day on the greens.
“I just didn't have the breaks on my side and it was very frustrating. I hit some awesome shots that turned into absolutely nothing.”
Michaels must feel he is in dreamland having missed the whole of the 2006 season as he underwent surgery on his shoulder. A remarkable eagle and two birdies in his last five holes catapulted him into a share of fourth place.
“I took last year off with shoulder surgery, so this is actually my first tournament since Okinawa 2005,” he said. “I think the golf gods are doing me a favour right now, so hopefully they will give me one more day of being nice to me.”
Dane Søren Kjeldsen, who shot a best-of-the-day 66, Australian Peter O’Malley (67) and Scot Paul Lawrie (71), the 1999 champion, lie on nine under par, while Els remains a threat.
A scrambling 68 gives the three-time Major Champion the chance for back-to-back titles following his win in the South African Airways Open last month.
“I've got to play good golf and try and play mistake free golf and make a lot of birdies. We'll give it a shot.”
