Els pulls eight shots ahead

The score was so astounding in such difficult conditions that it appeared Ernie Els was playing a different game than everyone else at the Genuity Championship.

He made eight birdies on a day when gusts were over 30 mph. His 6-under 66 was three strokes better than anyone else, and eight strokes better than the average score.

Tiger Woods can relate to the performance -- but not the position.

By the time Els was finished making a mockery of the Blue Monster at Doral, he had an eight-stroke lead over Woods and Peter Lonard of Australia.

``This was not an easy day,'' Wood said. ``Anything under par is a good score. Obviously, Ernie was playing very well. It's a major challenge tomorrow.''

That's what Els was saying two years ago, when he was a forgotten runner-up to Woods in the U.S. Open (15 strokes) and the British Open (eight strokes).

``I enjoy competing out here and especially against the best,'' Els said. ``He's definitely the best out there, so hopefully I will be ready this year for him.''

Woods birdied the first two holes but managed only pars the rest of the way, finishing with a 2-under 70. Lonard also had a 70, but finished before Woods and will be in the final pairing with Els on Sunday.

Els was at 199 and had the largest 54-hole lead on tour since Woods led by nine strokes in the NEC Invitational at Firestone two years ago, when he won by 11.

It was the largest lead Els has had since a six-stroke margin in the 1996 Buick Classic, which he went on to win by eight shots.

Els was asked if would feel even more comfortable with an eight-shot lead if Woods wasn't one of the guys in his rearview mirror.

``Yeah, probably,'' he laughed.

Four years ago at the Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand, Woods made up an eight-stroke deficit in the final round and beat Els in a playoff.

``I know he's come back at me in the past in Thailand,'' Els said. ``But I'm playing quite well this time.''

Els closed with rounds of 74-73 in Thailand, nothing like the kind of golf he is playing this week. He has made only two bogeys and has taken just 74 putts through three rounds.

And while his 66 on Saturday wasn't the lowest score of the year, it might have been the best round. The Blue Monster was a real menace, with gusts over 30 mph. Only four players managed to break 70, while four had an 80 or worse.

``I wouldn't say it was a walk in the park,'' Els said. ``I'm a little surprised I'm eight ahead. I'm just doing what I thought I would do for a long time.''

Els is hitting the ball so well that he wanted the wind to blow hard, the best way to separate the players on top of their game. There were few challengers Saturday.

Playing in the group ahead, Woods tried to apply some pressure with birdies on the first two holes. Els matched him, then recovered from his first bogey of the tournament.

He leaked a 4-iron on the 236-yard fourth hole, the ball bouncing off the hill and into the water. Els hit a nice pitch to 6 feet and escaped with a bogey, his lead down to three.

He answered with a sand wedge into 12 feet for birdie on No. 5, then a 5-iron into 5 feet on No. 6 for another birdie.

When he holed from 20 feet on the next hole for his third straight birdie and a six-shot lead, Els couldn't contain a sheepish smile as the gallery egged him on.

``Tiger who?'' one of them said.

There might not be a single rivalry in golf, but no one has a better history of great theater than Woods and Els.

It began at the Johnnie Walker Classic in 1998. A month later, Els returned the favor at Bay Hill when he played with Woods in a 36-hole Sunday and was 12 shots better.

Woods has gotten the better of him ever since, although the golf has been rarely short of spectacular -- a one-shot win at Disney in 1999, a playoff at Kapalua in 2000 when both players were at a high level.

There was also that 15-stroke victory at Pebble Beach, and Woods' eight-stroke margin in the British Open at St. Andrews.

``What transpired in the past is irrelevant,'' Woods said. ``You've got to go out there and execute golf shots here and now.''

Woods missed an 11-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole that would have put him in the final pairing with Els, although he said that wasn't important.

``If I get off to a good start, he's got to look at it,'' Woods said.

Whatever Els saw on Saturday didn't spook him too much.

Divots

Six players had to return to finish the second round Saturday morning, which only made the cut official at 144. It was the second straight year at Doral the cut was at even par or better, after six consecutive years at over par. ... Cell phones continue to be a problem on the PGA Tour, and Justin Leonard always seems to be involved. One was ringing as he teed off on No. 16, pulling it badly into a left bunker. ``How about turning it off?'' Leonard yelled as his ball was airborne. ... The 18th tee was moved up 74 yards, leaving the big hitters a wedge into the green. ``I was wondering why I saw some of the guys down there that far,'' Woods said. ``I thought they hit a shot in the right trees and had to pitch out.'' ... Lonard played in rain pantsbecause he bent over and tore his regular pants.

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