A fabulous 65 saw three-time Dubai winner Ernie Els shoot to the top of the leaderboard after round three of the Dubai Desert Classic.
Watch all four rounds of the Dubai Desert Classic live on Sky Sports
A fabulous 65 saw three-time Dubai winner Ernie Els shoot to the top of the leaderboard after round three of the Dubai Desert Classic.
The South African trailed overnight leader Tiger Woods by three shots at the start of play, but produced five birdies and an eagle to move to -11, opening up a one-shot lead on the field going into the final round.
Els will be joined in Sunday's final group by defending champion Henrik Stenson who carded a 68 to move into second on -10.
A further two shots behind the Swede are Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood who shot 68 and 69 respectively.
Woods could manage only a one-over-par 73 and has slipped four shots off the pace into a group of six players at -7 as he looks for his eighth win in nine events.
Frustrating
The world number one endured another frustrating day at the Emirates Golf club, summed up by a bogey at the last which came courtesy of a trip to the greenside lake.
Woods could manage only two birdies, both at par-fives, while three bogeys in total ensure he has plenty to do if he is to overhaul Els.
By contrast the South African looked close to something like top form as he tamed the course he loves with a superlative display.
Birdies at three and five ensure he hit the turn in 33, but it was on the back nine that he really turned the screw with his stunning eagle at ten followed by further birdies at 11, 13 and then 17.
Els was understandably delighted with his display, but insisted he still had plenty to do to emerge triumphant with several big-names still within striking distance.
"It was a good round that I needed," he stated. "I'm swinging it better now than I have been all week, I hit the ball really nicely. I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens.
"I was disappointed with my second round. I thought I would probably need two 64s to have half a chance so a 65 today, I will probably need another low one. I can't see Henrik, Tiger and the other guys not shooting low so I have just got to keep it going.
"It will be like a pressure cooker tomorrow, so I will need to get through that then start going through my round."
Sitting alongside Woods at -7 is Spaniard Sergio Garcia who shot a 70 and also Abu Dhabi champion Martin Kaymer (69), Shiv Kapur (69), Peter Hedblom (70) and Ireland's Damien McGrane (72).
