• Dubai Desert Classic, Day Three

Westwood holds share of the lead in Dubai

Thongchai Jaidee let a three-shot lead slip through his grasp © Getty Images

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• News: Jimenez edges nail-biting play-off in Dubai
  
• News: Day Two: Westwood charges through
  
• News: Day One: McIlroy storms into contention
  
• Profile: Lee Westwood
• Gallery: Day Three in Pictures

Day Three in Pictures

Lee Westwood birdied the 18th to take a share of the clubhouse lead after three rounds of the Dubai Desert Classic. The European No. 1 sits alongside Thongchai Jaidee, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Alvaro Quiros on 11-under.

Westwood blew hot and cold on the greens but still managed to make four birdies on the back nine for a 68 and he will start day four in the final pairing.

Jaidee held a three-shot lead at one stage, but his touch on the greens deserted him on the back nine and was pegged back by his three rivals.

Jimenez struck the ball superbly and holed out well after a horror six at the 10th. Birdies at 11, 13, 14 and 17 saw him card an excellent 68.

Quiros is one of the longest hitters on tour, but he also has a fine touch on the greens and a monster putt on 17 followed by a birdie on 18 moved him firmly into contention.

"I could have got off to a fast start but didn't," Westwood told Sky Sports. "I played a few sloppy shots and just ground it out, I made some and missed some putts and 68 seems fair."

Rory McIlroy bogeyed the first hole and never truly recovered. Birdies at four, eight, fourteen and eighteen kept him in contention, but he will start the final day two adrift and will have to do the chasing if he is to defend his crown.

"It could have been better," McIlroy said. "I stayed patient and took a couple of chances when they came along. It just was not quite there today and I just got it round. To feel like I did today and shoot a 69 is good. A year ago a round like today would have been a 72 or 73, so that is positive.

"When I am chasing in the last round I feel quite comfortable, I like to try and put the leaders under pressure. If I can get off to a good start I will have a chance."

Martin Kaymer produced his best round of the week, a four-birdie 68, to move up to seven-under, one behind Edoardo Molinari and Marcus Fraser, and the German was happy with his effort. "I made a lot of putts; I played solidly and hit the fairways and greens," Kaymer said. "There are three par fives on the back nine and if you use them you can make a score. I have played pretty solid all week, I feel pretty good and if I can sneak in a few more tomorrow I will have a chance."

Paul Casey birdied the first two holes but was unable to build on the stunning start as he carded a 71 to sit at six-under, while his playing partner Charl Schwartzel had a see-saw round. He went out in 42, including a triple bogey on the eighth, but came back superbly and an eagle on 18 left him on two-under.

Miguel Angel Jimenez is in contention heading into the final day © Getty Images

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Scotland's Stephen Gallagher made a move to put himself into contention for Sunday, five birdies propelling him up the leaderboard to five-under. Oliver Wilson made the cut courtesy of a monster putt on 18 on Friday and built on the effort with a solid round of 67.

Darren Clarke carded a 72 to sit on three-under but it could have been better as he had to play the final few holes without a putter after breaking his on the 12th. It proved costly as he missed a relatively short putt on the 18th with his sand wedge.

Tom Watson produced a solid round for 17 holes and was well placed, but disaster struck on the last as he knocked his ball into the water at the par five and missed a tiddler of a putt to take seven and fall back to two-under.

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