Omega Dubai Desert Classic

Westwood, in four-way tie for lead, says

he'll have a go in Sunday's final round

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

European No 1 Lee Westwood is promising to take an aggressive approach in Sunday's final round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic after claiming a share of the four-way leadership logjamb
The World No 4 dropped just one shot in a four under par 68 to join Spanish duo Alvaro Quiros and Miguel Angel Jiménez and Asian No 1 Thongchai Jaidee in a four-way tie at 11 under par 205.
A frustrated Westwood, pictured right, was one over after six holes of his third round but fought back and had a chance to snatch the outright lead at the last but missed a long eagle putt.
"Any time I'm in contention that gets me buzzing and excited," said Westwood.
"I'll play aggressively (on Sunday). I won't do anything stupid, but I'll shoot at the flags that need to be shot at.
"If I keep playing the way I am and get off to a quick start I'm going to have a chance coming down the last nine holes."
Defending champion Rory McIlroy heads the chasing pack after a 69, with Marcus Fraser (70) and last season’s Challenge Tour No 1 Edoardo Molinari (70) on eight under 208 with Abu Dhabi champion Martin Kaymer lurking a further shot adrift 209 after a bogey free 68.
Last week in Qatar Westwood headed into the final round just one shot adrift but was left frustrated with a new driver and was forced to settle for third.
But a week later the 36 year old Englishman is much more confident of success after blazing a flawless seven under par 65 on Friday, his best score in 50 rounds at Emirates Golf Club.
"It will be a bit of a birdie-fest if it stays like this," he added.
"Hopefully there will be a bit of wind, but all I'm going to do is try and do what I did at the Dubai World Championship and go out and shoot the lowest score of the final day."
Overnight leader Jaidee missed a string of chances on the back nine after briefly establishing a four-shot lead and was forced to settle for a 69.
"I am not disappointed I am not in the lead outright. I will just play my own game," said the 40 year old former paratrooper. "I have a good chance, but it is very close."
Quiros finished with back-to-back birdies to card the joint lowest score of the day with a flawless 67.
"It is going to be very tough to win with the players at the top of the leaderboard, it's not only in my hands. I want to shoot ten under, but someone could shoot 11 under," said the big-hitting 27 year old.
"I'm hitting a lot of great shots but I'm hitting a lot of bad shots, but I'm very lucky because I was able to recover. I have to be more consistent."
Jiménez, who began the day a shot adrift of Jaidee alongside Westwood, picked up four shots over his final eight holes to sign for a four under par 68 following a sublime display of iron play.
"I kept my concentration and focused on what I was hitting well and waited for the birdies to come," the 46 year old Spaniard said. "And that puts me in contention with all of these young guys."
Italian amateur Matteo Manassero continued to flourish with a 71 pushing the 16 year old British amateur champion to four under, with 60 year old eight-time Major winner Tom Watson two shots further back after ending his third round 71 with a double bogey.
Best placed of the three Scots who survived the halfway cut is Bathgate's Stephen Gallacher in joint 13th place after a 67 for 211. Dunfermline-born, Dubai-based Ross Bain had a 73 for level par 216 while David Drysdale from Dunbar returned a 72 for 218.

THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
205 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 70 67 68, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 70 66 69, Lee Westwood 72 65 68, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 69 69 67
207 Rory McIlroy 68 70 69
208 Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 68 70 70, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 70 68 70
209 Martin Kaymer (Ger) 71 70 68
210 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 68 72 70, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 70 71 69, Graeme McDowell 72 68 70, Paul Casey 69 71 70
211 Alexander Noren (Swe) 68 74 69, Stephen Gallacher 73 71 67
212 Peter Hanson (Swe) 73 69 70, Ross Fisher 70 72 70, Anders Hansen (Den) 69 73 70, Matteo Manassero (Ita) (am) 69 72 71
213 James Kingston (Rsa) 75 67 71, Gareth Maybin 73 68 72, Paul Waring 74 72 67, Oliver Wilson 72 74 67, Darren Clarke 71 70 72, David Lynn 72 71 70, Johan Edfors (Swe) 72 71 70, Robert Rock 70 74 69, Stephen Dodd 68 69 76, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 71 73 69
214 Chris Wood 72 74 68, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 68 70 76, Tom Watson (USA) 73 70 71, Richard Green (Aus) 69 74 71, David Horsey 71 73 70, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 74 70 70, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 73 71 70, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 74 72 68, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 76 69 69
215 Richard Bland 74 67 74, Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 75 68 72, Seung-yul Noh (Kor) 72 74 69, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 71 72 72, Paul Broadhurst 72 72 71, Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 71 74 70, Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 74 70 71, Tano Goya (Arg) 73 72 70
216 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 74 71 71, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 74 71 71, Soren Hansen (Den) 71 72 73, Marcel Siem (Ger) 71 70 75, Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (Ind) 77 69 70, Ross Bain 72 71 73
217 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 70 71 76, Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 74 70 73, Damien McGrane 73 73 71, Pablo Martin (Spa) 71 73 73, Kenneth Ferrie 74 72 71, Mark Foster 74 72 71, Bradley Dredge 72 71 74
218 Brett Rumford (Aus) 73 73 72, David Drysdale 72 74 72
219 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 71 75 73, Nick Dougherty 72 74 73, John Bickerton 73 70 76
220 Hennie Otto (Rsa) 76 67 77, Simon Dyson 71 74 75, Thomas Levet (Fra) 73 73 74
222 Erik Compton (USA) 73 73 76