DUBAI: Ian Poulter broke free from a crowded leaderboard Saturday to take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Dubai World Championship. The Englishman is at 12-under overall, two shots ahead of Ross Fisher of England, Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and Francesco Molinari of Italy who are all on 10-under. Poulter, who won last week's Hong Kong Open, started Saturday in a tie for the lead with Fisher and the two were even for much of the day. Poulter made his move on the back nine with two birdies while Fisher three-putted the 15th hole and went in the water on the 18th which forced him to settle for a bogey. “You know, I think it was important today to go out there and play solid, bank a few birdies,” Poulter said. “I felt I dropped two silly, silly bogeys on holes that I really feel I should have taken advantage of. That was the only frustration of the day.” Fisher was left to rue what could have been a solid round and a chance to at least tie for the lead several times on the back nine. His best chance came on the 15th when he hit his drive to the green on the 371-yard, par 4 hole. His first putt for eagle rolled past the hole and he missed what should been an easy putt for birdie. Jaidee and Molinari charged up the leaderboard, with the Thai shooting a 3-under 69 while the Italian had a 4-under 68 to put themselves in contention. No. 1-ranked Lee Westwood was also in the mix, shooting a 1-under 71 to remain three shots off the pace. Westwood won the tournament last year, shooting a course record 64 on the final Sunday on his way to an easy victory. Meanwhile, Graeme McDowell's hopes of winning the European money title took another hit after he finished four shots behind money-leader Martin Kaymer and far down the leaderboard in a tie for 30th. Kaymer, the US PGA champion, will claim the money title and a $1.5 million bonus by finishing higher than McDowell, who can only overtake the German in the Order of Merit by winning the tournament or ending up alone in second as long as Kaymer finishes no higher than a tie for third. If McDowell is tied for second, Kaymer could afford to finish as low as sixth. After failing to break par in the first two days, McDowell made three birdies on the back nine to reach 2 under for the tournament. Kaymer effectively ended the two-man battle for the Order of Merit Thursday, surging to a five-shot lead over McDowell after shooting a 67. The lead ballooned to eight shots Friday, when Kaymer hit a 70 for a share of fourth place. McDowell's putting woes have plagued him all week. McDowell's fellow Northern Irelander, Rory McIlroy, shot a 6-under 66 - the lowest round of the day - to climb back into contention at 7 under. He made seven birdies, including three in a row after the turn.
