Jimenez out in front in Dubai

Miguel Angel Jimenez moved into a one-shot lead midway through the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic with the Spaniard locked in a see-saw battle with fellow overnight leaders Lee Westwood, compatriot Alvaro Quiros and Thongchai Jaidee.

Jimenez played the opening 10 holes in level par to stay at 11 under, with European number one Westwood and Quiros one over for the day at the turn.

Asian number one Jaidee also played his first 10 holes in one over after kick-starting his bid courtesy of back to back birdies around the turn.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy and Challenge Tour number one Edoardo Molinari were still in contention at eight under par.

Quiros was the first to make a move with a birdie at the third, but the Spaniard was soon joined by playing partner Westwood at 12 under.

The world number four’s educated gamble to take a fairway wood out of a bunker paid off in fine fashion as a sublime chip from the back of the green set up a simple birdie on the same hole.

Jaidee dropped his first shot since the opening round to slip to 10 under and was soon three adrift as Westwood holed from 25ft at the fourth.

Westwood’s advantage did not last long as he needed two shots to get out of the rough at the side of the fifth green before missing from two feet to card an ugly double bogey.

Jaidee’s challenge continued to falter with two bogeys in three holes dropping the Thai back to eight under.

But a first birdie of the day on the ninth was soon followed by another on the 10th and as Westwood bogeyed the ninth, Jimenez edged ahead with a first birdie of the day at the 10th.

Eight-time major winner Tom Watson, 60, carded six birdies in a four-under-par 68 to finish at six under overall alongside Henrik Stenson (68) and Gregory Bourdy.