McGinley and O'Meara lead in Dubai
Paul Gittings
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Playing partners Paul McGinley and Mark O'Meara remained locked together in the lead on 202 - 14-under-par - after the third round of the Dubai Desert Classic on Saturday.
Irishman McGinley chipped in for birdie at the last for a three-under-par 69, drawing level with American O'Meara, who returned a 68 after forging one shot clear with three consecutive birdies from the 14th.
Britain's Brian Davis is a further three strokes back in third after a 69. Tiger Woods is six back after a 69.
Paul Casey (70), Simon Dyson (70) and Bradley Dredge (71) tied for fourth at nine-under 207.
Twice major champion O'Meara is chasing his first tour title since 1998 while McGinley, who holed the winning putt for Europe at the 2002 Ryder Cup, is bidding for his first European crown in two and half years.
World number one Woods kept his hopes alive with a strong back nine in soaring temperatures at Emirates Golf Club.
The eight-times major winner struggled with his approach play into the quickening greens but a mix of four birdies and one bogey left him tied for fifth at eight-under 208.
"I figured the leaders wouldn't run away with it today with the greens firming up as they are," said the 28-year-old. "I'm putting well. I just need to give myself a look at the hole. The hard part is getting them close enough with the greens as firm as they are."
Woods' great rival Ernie Els of South Africa made a fast start, but thereafter was inconsistent and struggled for a 72 to tie for 14th at six-under.
McGinley, who had produced 14 birdies in 24 holes the previous day, including eight in a row, initially struggled to make a move in the final group of the day. He and O'Meara parred the first six holes before collecting back-to-back birdies on seven and eight and they reached the turn at two-under 33.
Further pars followed on 10 and 11 before the Irishman forged two strokes clear, O'Meara bogeying the par-four 12th after finding palm trees off the tee. The American rallied, however, in dramatic style.
He holed a 12-foot birdie putt at the par-four 14th to trim McGinley's lead to one, drew level when he struck his tee shot to six feet on 15 and then forged ahead with another birdie at the 425-yard 16th.
O'Meara could only par the last two holes before McGinley signed off with his remarkable chip-in at the last.
