But the 'Big Easy' knows that he can't afford to be as wasteful on the greens after taking 30 putts en route to three under par 68.

At 17 under par, Els is just two strokes off Henrik Stenson, Ross Fisher and Jyoti Randhawa with Woods lurking just three shots adrift after turning a possible 63 into a 67 with an erratic putting performance.

On a day when amateur Rory McIlroy four-putted the 17th en route to a 71 and joint 31st pace after being stung by a wasp, Els three-putted twice and missed several gilt edged chances before finishing birdie-birdie.

"I am really fortunate to be two ahead, " Els said after taking 30 putts. "I don't think the other guys did much."

The South African has given himself three years to catch Woods at the top of the world rankings but he is happy to get his long haul campaign off to an ideal start.

"You're talking about a three-year deal, you know, " joked Els. "It's going to be a great test but whatever happens, we're in it for the long haul, win or lose tomorrow.

"You know I am really looking forward to it and I'd like to win it pretty badly.

"I'll give it my best. I'll be watching the leaderboard to see what the others are doing, especially Tiger. He could get red hot at any time."

Frustrated by his form on the greens, Woods unleashed two huge bombs with the driver to birdie the last two holes - driving the green at the 359 yard 17th and before overcooking a 12 foot eagle putt at the 18th.

"I didn't make any putts today, " Woods said. "I've hit just atrocious putts and didn't even come close. Now there's a bunch of us who have a chance of winning tomorrow, not just Ernie."

No fewer than 11 players are within six shots of the lead but none of them are Irish with a resurgent Darren Clarke the best of the bunch, seven adrift on 10 under par after a fine round of 68.

"I want to try and finish as high up as I can and make a few world ranking points and that's what I am trying to do so I am not that far off, " said world No. 47 Clarke.

"I just haven't played enough and it's simple that where I am in the world rankings is due that I have not played. It's not that I am playing poorly."

Graeme McDowell slipped back to nine under after a disappointing 73 with Paul McGinley and 17-year-old McIlroy on seven under after matching rounds of 71. While McGinley bogeyed the 18th after tangling the desert, two palm trees and the lake, McIlroy four-putted the 17th after being stung on the back of the neck by a wasp.