Heineken Classic: Els overcomes early jitters

Ernie Els showed his class yet again to regain command of the Heineken Classic at Royal Melbourne.

After seeing Australian Stephen Leaney come from four behind to lead by one midway through the third round, world number five Els went into overdrive.

Birdies at the seventh and ninth and then a 10-foot eagle putt on the 483-yard 10th took him clear again.

And with Leaney running up four bogeys in five holes, Els finished the day four strokes clear of another Australian, Peter O'Malley.

A second successive 69, to add to his opening 64, has put the South African on the 14-under-par mark of 202 and in sight of the first prize of nearly £136,000 (€223,000).

"I had a bit of a shaky start, but then picked things up and played a solid back nine," commented Els.

"I was certainly not going to panic when I saw I was behind. It was only the third round and there was a lot of golf to be played."

Reminded that compatriot Retief Goosen led by 13 at the same stage in last week's Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth, Els said: "I don't think you are going to see anything like Retief did for a while. I'm happy to be four ahead."

O'Malley, round in 68, is himself two in front of five men in joint third spot - Leaney, English pair Barry Lane and David Howell and New Zealanders Michael Campbell and Richard Lee. Nick Faldo is one further back.