He recovered a shot on the par-three seventh to go back to the top at 15 under but was joined at the turn by Tiger Woods, Ross Fisher and Henrik Stenson.

World number one Woods was threatening to deny Els a fourth Classic title for the second year running after he carded a one-under-par 34 on the front nine.

The 31-year-old shot a bogey on the first but recovered with birdies on the third and seventh.

Meanwhile, Fisher began well after two successive birdies from the third put him back on top of the leaderboard after he was displaced for the first time in the tournament yesterday by Els.

But an agonising double bogey on the par four sixth meant he dropped back to 15 under

Dubai-based Stenson would have started the back nine as leader but for a bogey on the ninth. He had earlier birdied the par-four second to move to 16 under.

Niclas Fasth was still on 14 under after completing his first nine holes. The Swede made the ideal start with birdies on the first and second but he dropped a shot on the fourth and made par on the rest before the turn.

Colin Montgomerie’s quest for a top-10 finish looked to be faltering as he failed to make a birdie on the front nine and bogeyed the par-four ninth.

But the Scot made a solid start coming home as he carded successive birdies from the 10th and was 10-under after 11 holes.

Paul Casey, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley were all one stroke behind Montgomerie on nine under.