"Ask any pro what championships he wants to win and it is always the Green Jacket."

But Els knows better than anyone the threat posed by Woods. Last year Els finished second behind the world number one at the US Open and British Open.

"Tiger's obviously the danger man out there," he admitted.

"Experience is going to count over the closing nine holes."

Clarke blows it

Clarke, though, knows his chance has gone after carding double-bogeys at the 16th and 18th holes on his way to a level-par 72.

The Northern Irish challenger had moved up from 12th to fourth by grabbing four birdies in a front nine 33.

He was alongside Woods and only two behind at that stage and with a nine-foot birdie putt at the 14th remained in the thick of things.

But then came the two holes which left him counting the cost of a terrible finish.

"I'm definitely too far back now," he said. "If I'd parred them I might still have a chance, but not now."

Defending champion Vijay Singh made no headway on the third day, posting four bogeys and three birdies in a rollercoaster 73 that left him at three-under 213.

"I'm a little disappointed," he said. "It was out there for the taking. I thought it would be harder."