Thomas Levet recorded a third round 66 to take the clubhouse lead during the third round of the Dubai Desert Classic.
The Frenchman picked up five shots on the back nine at Emirates Golf Club to sign for a six under par total, taking him to ten under for the tournament.
With six hours of play lost over the first two days, the leaders were unlikely to finish their third rounds before dark.
Richard Green - a winner of this event 12 years ago - had joined halfway leader Rory McIlroy at the top of the leaderboard on 13 under par.
The Australian was three under for his round after ten holes, while Northern Ireland’s McIlroy - who led by one stroke after two rounds after an eagle at the last in his second round earlier - was one under for the round at the turn.
McIlroy’s playing partner South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen - a runner-up two weeks running on The European Tour - was a shot further back, with former Order of Merit winner Justin Rose 11 under after ten holes thanks largely to his second round 66 earlier in the day.
