Tight at the top in Dubai

Westwood: part of four-way tie at the top

Third-round leaderboard:
(GB & Ire unless stated)
T Jaidee (Tha) -11
MA Jimenez (Spa) -11
A Quiros (Spa) -11
L Westwood -11
R McIlroy -9

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There is a four-way tie at the top of the leaderboard heading into an intriguing final round of the Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club.

European number one Lee Westwood, Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and Spanish duo Alvaro Quiros and Miguel Angel Jimenez all finished the day on 11-under-par.

Westwood and big-hitting Quiros will form the final group, with Jaidee and Jimenez playing together as they did on Saturday in the penultimate pairing.

A high-quality leaderboard sees defending champion Rory McIlroy just two shots off the pace in fifth, while Italy's Edoardo Molinari and Marcus Fraser of Australia are a shot further back on eight-under.

Abu Dhabi champion Martin Kaymer remains in contention for a second victory of the season on seven-under, while Paul Casey and Graeme McDowell are amongst a four-man posse on six-under.

Patience proved to be a virtue for Westwood who was one over after six holes of his third round, but he responded well and had a chance to snatch the outright lead at the last but missed a long eagle putt.

"Any time I'm in contention that gets me buzzing and excited," the Englishman stated afterwards.

"I'll play aggressively, I won't do anything stupid, but I'll shoot at the flags that need to be shot at.

"If I keep playing the way I am and get off to a quick start I'm going to have a chance coming down the last nine holes."

Superb putting

It was the opposite for Jaidee who started in superb fashion as he made three birdies over the course of a front nine on which he took just ten putts.

But he was unable to maintain that impeccable standard and missed a number of chances on a level-par back nine that comprises nine straight pars.

However, the 40-year-old former paratrooper was satisfied with his 69, saying: "I am not disappointed I am not in the lead outright. I will just play my own game.

"I have a good chance, but it is very close."

Runner-up in Qatar last week, Quiros produced his best round of the tournament to date with a bogey-free 67 and later commented: "It is going to be very tough to win with the players at the top of the leaderboard, it's not only in my hands. I want to shoot ten-under, but someone could shoot 11-under," said the big-hitting 27-year-old.

"I'm hitting a lot of great shots but I'm hitting a lot of bad shots, but I'm very lucky because I was able to recover. I have to be more consistent."

Jimenez, who began the day a shot adrift of Jaidee alongside Westwood, picked up four shots over his final eight holes to sign for a four-under-par 68 following a sublime display of iron play.

"I kept my concentration and focused on what I was hitting well and waited for the birdies to come," the 46-year-old declared. "And that puts me in contention with all of these young guys."

Italian amateur Matteo Manassero continued to prosper with a 71 pushing the 16-year-old British amateur champion to four-under, with 60-year-old eight-time major winner Tom Watson two shots further back after ending his third round, also a 71, with a double-bogey.