Els on track despite slip-up on 18th hole

Ernie Els made an uncharacteristic error towards the end, but stayed on track for his fifth title of the year on Friday, firing a four-under...

Ernie Els made an uncharacteristic error towards the end, but stayed on track for his fifth title of the year on Friday, firing a four-under-par 68 in the Dubai Desert Classic’s second round.

The defending champion was one ahead of the field playing the par-five 18th but hit his four-iron approach into the water guarding the green to run up his first bogey of the tournament.

That dropped the big-hitting South African back into a three-way tie for the lead at 10-under 134, alongside Finland’s Mikko Ilonen and Englishman David Lynn.

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“I was one ahead and, if I pulled the shot off, I might have made a three,” world number two Els said of his strategy on the final hole.

“It was 215 yards to the hole and normally that’s a good four-iron for me. It didn’t work out this time but we’ll have to see what happens over the weekend. I felt I was hitting the ball really well today, almost better than yesterday. The only loose shot I hit all day was my second shot at the last,” added Els, who has won four times in six starts this year, plus one second place. He also won his final event of last year, the Sun City Challenge.

Ilonen, British amateur champion in 2000, had been clear of the field at 11 under but dropped a shot at the end and had to settle for a 67 at the Emirates Golf Club. (Reuters)