Els, who has not won a tournament in two years, delivered a confident display that augurs well ahead of next month' U.S Masters.

The three-times major winner's 10-under par performance so far is impressive given his poor display at the Honda Classic where he finished tied for 67th.

"These have been two really good days for me especially when you look at where I was last week," he said. "I worked really hard, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and really tried to find something.

"I did find something so I'm sticking with that. I putted quite nicely and managed my game quite well."

A relaxed-looking Els said he felt confident he can make an impact this year.

"For some reason I feel really good mentally. I feel a little bit fresher than I have been. I'm up for it a little bit more this year.

"My putting is coming around, my short game too and so I've got a lot more hope than I have had maybe in the last couple of years. I feel I can have a good one this year." Australian Robert Allenby, who started on the back nine, recorded a hole in one at the par-three 13th and an eagle on the first but was in second place on nine-under 135 after another disappointing finish.

He bogeyed his last four holes on Thursday while on Friday he closed with bogeys on two of this final three holes.

Allenby struck his ace with a five wood - the same club he used for his last hole-in-one at the World Match Play Championship in Spain last year.

The poor weather has resulted in poor crowds and Allenby said few witnessed his feat.

"The four people who were out there were pretty happy," he joked. "It landed perfect, about 15 feet short of the hole and then sort of checked up and rolled up into the hole." Overnight leader Charl Schwartzel eagled the par-five first before he slipped back into a share of third place on seven-under after a double-bogey seven at the 12th.

Schwartzel and American Bill Haas (66) were three shots behind Els while Dane Soren Hansen (69) and Irishman Padraig Harrington (68) were a further stroke adrift.

Last year's champion Phil Mickelson, who was one of 18 players that had to wait more than two hours to finish the round after lightning and heavy rain suspended play, was six shots off the lead following his steady 69 on Friday.

Meanwhile in Melbourne,  Karrie Webb shot a 3-under-par 70 to take a one-stroke lead after Saturday's third round of the Women's Australian Open at Commonwealth Golf Club.

Webb three-round total of 6-under 213 put her ahead of second-round leader Giulia Sergas of Italy, who would have shared the lead but bogeyed the last after hitting into a greenside bunker and finished with a 75.

Defending champion and first-round leader Laura Davies of England had a 71 and was in third, two strokes behind.

Webb also won the Australian Masters last week, breaking the Royal Pines course record with a 61 in the final round to win the event for the seventh time.

Katherine Hull of Australia was in fourth, three strokes behind compatriot Webb, after a 72. Yani Tseng of Taiwan (72) and Yang Soo-jin of South Korea (75) were tied for fifth, four behind.

"It was really solid today, no bogeys," said Webb. "I hung tough when I needed to and made a couple of good pars coming in.

"It's the first time in a while I've played four weeks in a row, so I hope I've got one good round left in me." She was asked about the possibility of shooting another final-round 61.

"I hope so, I still hope I have a special round tomorrow so I can hold that trophy. I'd like to see the wind up like it is today to add to the challenge." Both Davies and Hull had birdie putts lip out on 18. But Davies chipped in from off the green once and holed a bunker shot.

"This course wears me out," Davies said. "I haven't hit it particularly well off the tee, but it's tiring. But close to the lead is where you want to be."