DUBAI, 7 March 2004 — Playing partners Paul McGinley and Mark O’Meara could not be separated after a tense battle for the lead in the fog-delayed Dubai Desert Classic third round yesterday. 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.

The pair finished at 14-under 202, with Britain’s Brian Davis a further three strokes back in third 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 No. 1 Tiger Woods kept his hopes alive, bouncing back from an out-of-sorts first nine to return a three-under-par 69 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, and six off the lead.

The expected third-round charge by Ernie Els, champion in 1994 and 2002, never materialized. He faded to an even-par 72 after making a fast start. The big-hitting South African holed a 30-foot birdie putt from just off the first green after missing the fairway off the tee and picked up another shot at the par-five third to get to eight under.

However, he then fluctuated wildly, mixing bogeys at eight, 13, 16 and 18 with birdies at 14 and 17 to fall back into a tie for 14th at six under.

Goosen Snatches Doral Lead

In Miami, South Africa’s Retief Goosen grabbed a one-shot lead on Friday with a four-under-par 68 after the second round of the Doral Championship. Phil Mickelson, Australian Craig Parry and Asian Tour journeyman Todd Hamilton held a three-way tie for second place on eight-under.

While Goosen finished the day on nine-under-par 135, Mickelson and Hamilton bogeyed their final holes to fall out of the lead. Despite setting the pace, Goosen was critical of his day’s work.

Germany’s Alex Cejka, Australian Craig Perks and Mark Calcavecchia were at seven-under 137 and two shots off Goosen’s lead. Champion Scott Hoch shot a two-over-par 74 to move to even-par for the championship and a tie for 52nd place while first-round leader Chris Smith slipped down the field in a tie for 25th.

With his 68 on Friday, Goosen ran his streak of rounds at par or below to 27 straight, including his last eight of the 2003 season.

Davies Stumbles With 77 but Still Leads Open by Two

England’s Laura Davies wobbled with a five-over par round of 77 but held on to a two-stroke lead in the Australian Women’s Open after a rain-swept third round at Concord in Sydney yesterday.

Heavy rain began falling in the morning as 40-year-old Davies’ grip on the A$550,000 ($413,000) tournament slipped.

The winner of 65 tournaments worldwide started the day leading by four but her stumbling 77 left her on three-under 213 to be just two strokes ahead of leading Australian Rachel Teske (73-71-71). Teske was one of only three players to shoot below-par rounds on a horrible day.

Italian Sophie Sandolo was third on one over 217 while Australian Nadina Taylor was fourth along with Germany’s Martina Aberl, on two over 218. Puddles near the 16th hole forced play to be suspended for over an hour late in the day but it was a shot on a par three that had Davies cursing.

Australian No. 1 Teske was more subdued, her one under 71 leaving her in contention for her first title in a home tournament. Former world No. 1 Karrie Webb of Australia finished with a one over 73 to be five over 221 and in a share of eighth place in the tournament she has won twice.