Ernie Els pledged to move heaven and earth on Sunday to repel any challenge from old nemesis Tiger Woods in the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic. The South African will take a three stroke lead over the American into the last 18 holes.
”I’m up for it. I’m really looking forward to it and I’d like to win it pretty badly. I’m in it for the long haul,” he said after firing a four-under 68 in his third round.
”Tiger could get hot at any time so I’ll be watching the leaderboard. There are other players obviously, but you’ve got to watch the number one player in the world.”
In fact there are three players bunched between Woods and Els in joint second, two shots off the pace and all three have their chances as well of pulling off what would be a major upset.
Sweden’s Henrik Stenson is based in Dubai and knows the Majlis course at the Emirates Golf Club well, although he was complaining of tiredness after his third round.
Jyoti Randhawa of India has bounced back to form in a big way this week and is taking inspiration from compatriot Jeev Milka Singh who won the prestigious Volvo Masters in Spain last year.
Ross Fisher of England, meanwhile, has been the revelation of the tournament leading after the first two rounds and earning warm praise from Els after they shared a round on Saturday.
Four more Swedes — Niclas Fasth, Peter Hanson, Joakim Haeggman and Robert Karlsson are still in the hunt, while Thailand’s latest discovery, Prom Meesawat, is upstaging his better-known compatriot Thongchai Jaidee.
But it will be all eyes on Woods as he looks to build on his win in the Buick Invitational in California last Sunday — his first tournament of the year.
He warned that the winner would have to shoot very low.
”I saw the dots [pin placings] and they are pretty accessible pins,” he said. ”You’re going to have to make some birdies out there in order to win this thing.” – Sapa-AFP