'I played pretty nicely from the word go, it's just a shame about the last hole,' said Green, whose only PGA European Tour victory was ten years ago in Dubai and who had to settle for a 71 (-1). 'A two-shot cushion would have been nice but I'll probably play a bit more aggressive tomorrow rather than so defensive had I been two shots ahead.'

For Goosen and Australian PGA champion O'Hern, Green's last hole blip was almost a lifeline after expecting to go into the final round looking to hunt down the leader. 'I was guessing I would be at least two behind going down the last but then the 'Greenman' hit it into the rocks on the 18th and made double,' said former US Open champion Goosen who shot a 71 (-1) and admitted that not having won for over a year would also make the going tough.

'It's not as if I've won all that recently so there will be a little bit of stress on us both to perform and do well tomorrow.'

Although the closest players to the leading three are defending champion Henrik Stenson and American comeback kid Ed Michaels who are two shots adrift on -10, it's Els who will have the leaders looking over their shoulders.

A third round 68 (-4) has put him right back in the frame in his first tournament back since winning the South African Open in December. 'I'm happy with the score but although I was after something under 70, I was looking for something a little lower,' said Els. 'The wind is blowing more than it's blown all week and the holes into the wind are quite tough. It's difficult to get the ball really close to the hole.

'It's a tough course and you're not going to just blow this thing apart. You've really got to play proper golf here so tomorrow I'd like to play better and try and shoot something really low. I think I've got an outside chance.'

While it's not unusual to see the names of Els, Stenson and the three leaders near the business end of the PGA European/Asian Tour co-sanctioned event, the sight of the unknown Michaels in the top five is a major surprise.

'I don't where this came from - it's like pulling a rabbit from a hat,' smiled the 30 year-old country music lover from Nashville playing his first tournament since Okinawa in 2005 and who finished with an eagle and a birdie in his closing three holes for a 69.

'Getting back to tournament golf was touch and go after my shoulder operation. But my wife Missy was amazing - she went back to work to pay the bills and every night she would tell me everything was going to work out. '

Should Michaels win the tournament and land by far the biggest prize of his playing career - the winner's cheque is worth USD 366,660 - it would surely be a golfing miracle. No matter where he finishes, however, Michaels will remember the Commercialbank Qatar Masters as the week when his golfing career got back on track.

'When you're four back of Goosen and you haven't played as long as I've played, you're just kind of out there for the day. That's what I was telling myself when I got on the first tee and I was shaking in my boots.'

The leaders may not be shaking in their boots at the thought of having Michaels on their tails but the sight of the last two Qatar champions - Stenson and Els - right behind them is an entirely different matter.

More information on the Commercialbank Qatar Masters 2007 is available at the official website www.qatar-masters.com