Els has steadily improved his scoring after an opening 75

THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD
(GB & Ire unless stated):
-6 R Jacquelin (Fr)
-5 JM Lara (Sp), G McDowell, D McGrane
-4 A Atwal (Ind), SSP Chowrasia (Ind)
Selected others:
-2 E Els (SA)
level M O'Meara (US)
+4 D Clarke

Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the inaugural Indian Masters in Delhi after a 72 kept him at six under par.

But Ernie Els carded the only sub-70 round on day three, and his 69 left him in a share of 10th four strokes back.

Halfway leader Damien McGrane lost his two-shot cushion after a 75 but remains in contention just a shot off the pace.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell also shares second but Darren Clarke had a seven in his 79 to drop to plus four.

Like most players Jacquelin had his problems but ground out a 72

All the players found conditions difficult again, with stiff breezes, tough pin positions and greens less immaculate than they are used to.

Clarke had the extra inconvenience of a bout of "Delhi belly" and after turning in one under, he racked up two double bogeys and a triple bogey seven to come back in 44 strokes.

Jacquelin, who had successive bogeys from the 10th, holed a 16-foot putt to eagle the 14th for the second day running.

"It's always good to be at the top of the leaderboard but I'm just a bit disappointed with my putting," said the 33-year-old, who is searching for his third European Tour victory.

"I hardly made any putts apart from the eagle. This course is so difficult to play, it's very tricky. But I have confidence in the way I'm playing. I like Asia. The courses seem to suit me."

Six birdies put Els right back in the frame for the final round.

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The 38-year-old South African, who squandered the Dubai Desert Classic a week ago when leading into the last day, will tee off 36 minutes before final pair Jacquelin and Jose Manuel Lara.

Four groups will still be on the course after he finishes his round on Sunday.

"I am playing quite consistently but struggling a little bit on the greens, I am having a tough time reading the putts," he said.

"Shooting a 75 on the first day was really disappointing but I have really worked my tail off to get under par and now I am two under so I do feel kind of satisfied after my first day."

Arjun Atwal heads the local challenge, having birdied two of the first five holes before a double bogey at the par three seventh checked his progress.

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He combined successive birdies with consecutive bogeys on the back nine to finish at four under, level with compatriot SSP Chowrasia, who had five birdies in an eventful 71.

The Florida-based Atwal, who in 2004 became the first Indian to secure a USPGA Tour card, said: "I played a decent round but made a lot of silly mistakes.

"I've struggled so badly in the last 18 months that I'm just happy to be in contention," added the 34-year-old who had a serious car crash in Orlando last year.