Els lets huge lead slip

Ernie Els dropped six shots in nine holes at the Heineken Classic to throw away his eight-shot overnight lead in astonishing fashion.

Betting on the winner at Royal Melbourne had been suspended after Els ripped the course apart with rounds of 60, 66 and 68 to head into the final day on 22 under par.

But an incredible start of four bogeys and a triple bogey sent Els tumbling back to meet Adam Scott on 16 under as he sacrificed the outright lead for the first time since his 11th hole of the opening round.

After a start of bogey, birdie, bogey, Els' round really began to unravel on the 450-yard par-four fourth when his second shot thudded into the back bunker.

From there, due to the treacherous slope, it is virtually impossible to play out and remain on the green without heading sideways.

Faced with chipping back on his fourth shot, Els watched in horror as his ball rolled back down the slope virtually to his feet.

A second attempt stopped 20 feet past the hole and he two-putted for a nightmare seven.

Thoughts immediately turned to the 1998 Johnnie Walker Classic, when Els began his final round with an eight-shot lead and eventually lost the title to Tiger Woods on a play-off.

Els levelled his slide with two pars, but further bogeys on seven and nine left him tied for the lead with Scott, his playing partner, who had begun the day on 14 under.

The 23-year-old Australian, who won on the European and USPGA Tours last year, had been "inspired" as he played alongside Els over the first three days and attempted to just "remain in his slipstream".

This time it was about dodging his partner's pitfalls and as Els imploded, Scott sunk three birdies on his outward nine to pick up two shots.

Els' slump suddenly opened up the leaderboard and Scotland's Stephen Gallacher was only four shots off the lead after moving to 13 under by his 13th hole.

England's Greg Owen had set the lowest clubhouse tournament score after an impressive six-under-par round of 66, which included two eagles, left him on 12 under for the week.

Sweden's Robert Karlsson also carded a 66 to finish on eight under while Nick Faldo finished one over for the day, four under for the tournament.