ANDY CAPOSTAGNO, Sun City | Saturday 6.00pm.
ERNIE Els equalled the course record and all but ensured himself of the Million Dollar Challenge first prize with a display of breathtaking golf at Sun City.
Els’ third round 64, eight under par, put him at 19 under par for the tournament, fully six strokes ahead of playing partner Colin Montgomerie who admitted to just trying to hang onto Els’ coat-tails from the ninth hole onward.
It was at the par five ninth that Els’ round came alive, after his first two bogeys of the tournament at seven and eight. After a booming drive Els rifled a two iron onto the island green and holed the fifteen foot putt for eagle. He then birdied five of the next six holes and if just one of the putts which brushed the hole on the last three had dropped he would have set a new course record.
Montgomerie could not put his short irons close enough to match Els’ scoring, but his 68 deserved to be several shots better as good putts over the closing holes resolutely refused to drop.
Montgomerie said: “I’ve seen Ernie play like this a few times and it’s very impressive. He’s going to win tomorrow and it is my job to try and hang onto second place”.
Breathing down the Scot’s neck is Ireland’s Darren Clarke who matched Els with a 64 which took him to 11 under par, two shots behind Montgomerie.
Jim Furyk of the USA had a 65 to reach 10 under, while defending champion Nick Price, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia are all at eight under.
None of these are in contention and Montgomerie summed up Els’ tour de force by saying, “Tomorrow will be my last round of the century and it will be an honour to play it with Ernie Els”.