Ernie Els, bidding for a fifth win in seven starts this year, fell three behind Scotland's Alastair Forsyth after nine holes of his third round in the Dubai Desert Classic today.
Forsyth leaves Els trailing in his wake
Ernie Els, bidding for a fifth win in seven starts this year, fell three behind Scotland's Alastair Forsyth after nine holes of his third round in the Dubai Desert Classic today.
Three-putt bogeys at the fourth and ninth cancelled out birdies at the third and fifth as Els failed to take command.
Forsyth was the one to shine, going to the turn in a three-under 32 and establishing a three-stroke lead over not only Els, but also England's David Lynn - another of the four overnight leaders - and Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen.
A year ago Forsyth played with the South African in the first two rounds of the event. Els shot 68-68 and went on to win, Forsyth had 77-72 and missed the halfway cut.
Asked whether it was inspiring or intimidating to play with the world number two he had answered: "A bit of both, but a good start can relax you."
An eagle at the 530-yard third was certainly that and after bogeying the difficult short fourth - as Els and many of the field did - the 27-year-old from Paisley sank birdies at the seventh and eighth.
Ian Woosnam, joint fifth overnight only one stroke behind, was in the water at the fourth and double-bogeyed.
But the 45-year-old Welshman, beaten in a play-off by Australian Richard Green in 1997, responded with birdies at the eighth and ninth.
They put him back to nine under and joint fifth with playing partner Thomas Bjorn - winner two years ago after going head-to-head with Tiger Woods all four days - and South Korean Kevin Na.
Early clubhouse leader on eight under after a 67 - superb with the greens much slicker and a testing wind - was 28-year-old Peter Lawrie from Dublin in his first full season on the circuit.
There were no moves from Lawrie's fellow Dubliners Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley or from Dungannon's Darren Clarke.
Harrington, who blamed poor early season concentration for not figuring more on the first two days, had a 71 to lie two under, while Ryder Cup team-mate Paul McGinley four-putted from 15 feet on the 18th for his second double-bogey seven of the back nine, a 77 and two over aggregate.
Both will be hoping for better in next week's Qatar Masters, but Forsyth today withdrew from the event like 39 others with war against Iraq looking increasingly likely.
Clarke, also among the pull-outs, stood level par for the day and five under for the tournament with two to play.