Jimenez leads Dubai; Els recovers

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Ernie Els recovered from a bad start Saturday to stay one stroke behind leader Miguel Angel Jimenez after three rounds of the Dubai Desert Classic. Els, a two-time Dubai champion, hit two solid shots to reach the green on the 458-yard, par-4 opening hole, but he putted four times to record a double bogey.

The South African soon regrouped and made seven birdies to finish with a 5-under 67 for a 15-under 201 total.

Jimenez, who put together a bogey-free round of 4-under 68, stayed one shot clear of Els at 16-under 200.

"I still don't know what I did there on the first hole," Els said. "I guess you are never too old to learn.

"You have got to respect the old game. I did try on each of those putts. The only reason I can think of is that the practice green was a bit too fast than the ones out there."

Jimenez, looking for his first title of 2005, started with a par and had a two-stroke advantage over Stephen Dodd, who birdied the fourth hole to move to 10 under.

Jimenez holds the lead at the Dubai Desert Classic. (Getty Images)

Els, however, clawed back with birdies on the third and fifth to be even par at the turn, and then turned on the heat with birdies on 10th, 13th, 14th, 16th and 18th.

However, Jimenez remained unfazed by Els' charge.

Two birdies on either half of the course, including a crucial one on the 18th, ensured the stylish Spaniard remained in charge.

"What happened to Ernie on the first hole can happen to anyone," Jimenez said. "I just concentrated on my game and am very happy with the way I played. I would have been happier if I could have converted some of the birdie chances I had coming in."

The Dubai Desert Classic could impact the upper echelon of the Official World Golf Ranking this week. If Els wins and Tiger Woods finishes lower than a tie for third with one other player at the Ford Championship at Doral, the South African would take over the No. 2 spot in the world.

Colin Montgomerie continued his impressive comeback with a 6-under 66, which moved him into third place at 13-under 203.

The Scotsman started with a bogey after pushing his six-iron second shot to the right rough and missed his up-and-down, but he was sensational thereafter.

Lee Westwood, the European Tour Order of Merit winner in 2000, moved into a tie for fifth at 1-under 205 courtesy of a 67, while Dodd added a 69 to stay in contention at 12-under 204.

Both Dodd and Westwood made two bogies during their round, but the Englishman benefited from seven birdies while Dodd could find only five.

Jarrod Lyle of Australia, Bradley Dredge of Wales and James Kingston of South Africa are all tied for sixth at 10 under.

Ryder Cup star Thomas Bjorn had a disappointing day with a 1-over 73, submitting the only over-par card of the day in the top-30 on the leaderboard.

Newly appointed European Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam closed with 1-under 71.

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