Ernie Els moves 3 clear

Ernie Els will take a three shot lead into the last round of the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday, after a 67 in the third round of the European Tour event left him clear of Sweden's Niclas Fasth.

The former US Open champion looks in commanding form and you wouldn't bet against him capturing yet another title, to add to the Heineken Classic trophy that he picked up last month in Melbourne.

On the front nine Els collected three birdies and a bogey, his first of the week, however stepped up a gear to land four more birdies in the next nine holes.

The South African looks more relaxed this year, after a 2001 season that promised much but failed to deliver any victories.

His Stateside victory in the Genuity Championship last week, when he held off a late charge from Tiger Woods, merely confirmed that he is back to his best.

He will have to be careful though because Fasth has made a good start to the new season, despite dropping what could turn out to be a crucial shot on the 17th.

The 29-year-old impressed many with his performances in the Accenture Match Play, a narrow loss to Paul Azinger depriving him of a place in the quarter-finals.

His compatriot Carl Pettersson jumped up the leaderboard thanks to a superb 65, the 24-year-old bouncing back from a poor second round of 73.

Pettersson looks capable of becoming a major force in world golf, after winning four All-American titles while studying at North Carolina State University.

He is five shots back though and needs a great round on Sunday to give himself a chance of taking the title that Els won back in 1994.

Frenchman Raphaël Jacquelin is in a group of four players on six-under-par, together with Andrew Oldcorn and the English duo of Paul Broadhurst and John Bickerton who both disappointed with rounds of 71 and 73 respectively.

Defending champion Thomas Bjorn is a shot further back alongside Sven Struver and Greg Owen, while halfway leader Korea's Charlie Wi collapsed to an abysmal 77.

Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington are both struggling for form at the moment, however they both carded a 68 to lift their spirits ahead of the final round.

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