Els error keeps Jimenez in front

A giant-sized blunder from Ernie Els helped Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez retain the lead in the Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates today.

World number three Els, second at the halfway stage and without a bogey in his first 36 holes, four-putted from only 20 feet on the opening green of his third round.

After charging his birdie attempt four feet past, Els allowed his second putt to slide two feet past and then, without stepping back and lining it up properly, missed the third as well.

The South African did come back with seven birdies for a 67 and 15-under-par total of 201, but Jimenez’s closing birdie – after only just carrying the lake in front of the green – takes him into the final day one ahead.

One of Europe’s Ryder Cup heroes last September, the 41-year-old from Malaga returned a bogey-free 68 to remain on course for a sixth title in 14 months.

It is not a two-horse race yet, although third-placed Colin Montgomerie was talking elephants rather than horses after a 66 kept him in the hunt at 13 under.

Montgomerie began the season 81st in the world, is currently ranked 63rd and is desperately keen to get in the top 50 so he can play in this month’s Players’ Championship in Florida and next month’s Masters at Augusta.

“It’s like eating an elephant,” said the 41-year-old Scot. “I can do it, but you have to do it bite by bite.”

He needs to finish second on his own tomorrow to make the necessary jump, but knows that will be tough with the game’s third and 16th best players ahead of him.

Els commented: ``The way Miguel is playing you've got to play well to beat him. Everything is pretty solid - there's no weakness.''

Inevitably, however, most of the talk was about his start.

“I looked a bit foolish there,” he admitted.

“You are never too old to learn and you have to respect the old game.

“I felt so good on the range and didn’t feel I missed a shot, but I never want to start with a bogey and to make a double is just a disaster.

“I had a lot of things flying through my head at that stage and I definitely was not thinking straight, but I kept my composure.”

The only explanation he could come up with was that the practice green was quicker and he did not make the adjustment.

Montgomerie would have been right in the thick of it if things had gone his way on the last four greens. His ball hung on the edge of the 15th hole and then three lipped out, including a 10-foot eagle attempt on the last.

“They were four glorious chances, but never mind,” said Montgomerie.

“I can’t feel bad about a 66 and I hit the ball fantastic, as I have the last two months. It’s exciting for me.

“I spent the last three years trying to hit the ball too hard. I was playing somebody else’s game and not my own. Now I’m back playing my own.”

In Singapore, playing his first tournament of the season, Montgomerie led but finished second to Nick Dougherty. In Australia, in his second event, he led again but fell away to 11th.

At the US tour’s Nissan Open in Los Angeles two weeks ago he had his lowest-ever round in America, a second-round 64, but never got to hit another shot because of rain and had to be content with fifth place.

It all served to give him a bank of confidence heading back to the Middle East and a course on which he has happy memories.

Montgomerie won the title in 1996, coming from one behind Jimenez on the final day to win by one after a driver off the fairway over the lake onto the final green.

It was named the European Tour’s Shot of the Year and he still rates it the best shot he has ever struck under pressure.

Welshman Stephen Dodd, who broke his European Tour duck at the age of 38 by winning the China Open in November, lies fourth on 12-under after a 69 and one further back is Lee Westwood following a 67.

After his round, the Worksop golfer turned his attention to one of his other sporting interests.

Two of his horses were running at the nearby track, with Right Approach, formerly owned by the Queen, favourite in the second biggest race.