American Bryson DeChambeau remains on course to achieve his dream of claiming a maiden overseas victory this week after producing a 68 on Saturday to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
The halfway co-leader mixed six birdies with two bogeys on day three to jump to 16-under par and establish a one-stroke lead over defending champion Li Haotong with 18 holes remaining.
Li closed his third-round 67 with back-to-back birdies to sit alone in second place, two shots ahead of Ernie Els – a three-time winner of this event – and Matt Wallace on 13 under.
Lucas Herbert, who had led alongside DeChambeau after 36 holes, Challenge Tour graduate Kalle Samooja, 2011 winner Alvaro Quiros, and Thorbjørn Olesen were then in a tie for fifth on 12 under.
‘I can’t express to you how awesome it would be to win on the European Tour,’ the American leader said.
‘I’m still leading, obviously. It’s fantastic. I couldn’t be displeased with that, but my expectation levels are for how I know I can perform, and I feel like I’m underperforming a little bit.
‘I’m still in the lead, still got the job done. I made it happen when necessary and hopefully I can have one more of those days, and maybe even a better ball-striking day.’
Els, a record three-time winner at Emirates Golf Club, was bogey-free on Saturday to remain in the picture.
‘Well, obviously I didn’t get it going like yesterday. I didn’t make a bogey on my card, but only two birdies,’ he said
‘I felt, like I said yesterday, I kind of predicted that the course might play a little firmer, and I found it difficult to get the ball close to the hole.
‘So I didn’t have great birdie chances. I hit a lot of greens, maybe as close as I wanted to, but still fought out a 70, so I’ve got to be satisfied.’
