Unsatisfactory end for Els

Ernie Els, bidding for a fifth win in seven starts this year, finished with a bogey six for the second day running as Alastair Forsyth and David Lynn refused to yield to him at the Dubai Desert Classic.

They go into the final 18 holes tied for the lead on the 13-under-par mark of 203 after all shooting third rounds of 69.

Three-putt bogeys at the fourth and ninth cancelled out birdies at the third and fifth as defending champion Els fell three behind Forsyth on the front nine.

But then the South African showed the class which has taken him to two victories on each of the American and European tours already this season.

Els birdied the short 11th, then holed from 10 and seven feet at the 15th and 16th and unleashed a massive drive on the down-wind 359-yard next.

It finished on the front of the green, from where he two-putted to go into top spot on his own.