Els bounces back

Ernie Els’ presence at last began to loom large at the Qatar Masters in Doha today.

Ireland's Paul McGinley is at two over after today's round.

Only 81st after an opening 73 and then 24th when he added a 69, Els set the early clubhouse target for the overnight leaders when he added another 69 in the difficult conditions.

At five under par, the world number three then had to wait and see whether it left him in with a chance of a second successive victory following his thrilling Dubai Desert Classic triumph last weekend.

Australian Richard Green, one ahead at halfway on nine under, managed only a one over 37 for the front nine, but at eight under remained just in front of the chasing pack.

Welshman David Park, Indian Arjun Atwal and Swedes Pierre Fulke and Henrik Stenson were all on seven under starting the back nine.

None of the first 50 starters managed to break 70 in the testing wind, so Els, up to joint eighth, could take some comfort from that.

“I played good,” said the South African, the only player in the world’s top 50 taking part.

“I missed a lot of putts and felt I could have shot low, but the flags are tucked away and it’s almost impossible to go low. It’s difficult to get on a roll, but hopefully I’ll be within five at the end of the day. I’ll then try to play a really good round.”

He had an opportunity at the 581-yard last to move closer, but from just short of the green in two he left his long chip 14 feet short and missed the putt.

Earlier he had birdied the third and ninth for a front nine 34 that was the second best of the day and, after bogeying the short 13th for the second time in the week, he came back by picking up further strokes on the 14th and 16th.

Playing partner Steve Webster, the Warwickshire 30-year-old who has had five second place finishes on the European tour but no wins, did birdie the last for a matching 69.

Green’s dropped shot came on the difficult sixth, the two players who were closest to him overnight, Swedes Fulke and Robert Karlsson, both turned in 37 as well and Karlsson then ran up a six on the long 10th.

Atwal is the player who had his driver and putter stolen before the third round, but the replacement clubs were serving him well and he moved into a share of top spot before taking six on the 634-yard ninth.

At the start of the day Fredrik Andersson was left looking like a weekend hacker, running up a horror 88 to slump to 16 over. He had been lying ninth after his opening 69.

That he was able to smile afterwards was a good sign, but what was not so good was that he was unable to blame it on injury, ill-health or breaking a club.

“I just played really bad,” he commented. “I’m working a bit on my swing, but when it doesn’t work it makes it even worse.

“After triple-bogeying the third I let it go and after a while just didn’t bother. You just want to get it over with.”

He was lying last by 10 clear shots.