Dubai (UAE): Joint leaders Tiger Woods and Anders Hansen go into the final round of the $2.4 million Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club today (Sunday) with some of the world’s greatest golfers breathing down their necks.

With ten Majors to his name, world number one Woods may be favourite to lift the $400,000 first prize in the Dubai Aluminium (DUBAL)-sponsored event, but the 30 year-old American knows it won’t be easy against a chasing pack that includes two of the world’s top five players.

Woods’ third round 67 (-5) was enough to claw him back up alongside Hansen on 16-under par after the Scandinavian – who had been the overnight joint leader with South Africa’s Retief Goosen – could only manage a three-under-par 69.

"I always enjoy coming here so to play well today certainly brought back memories of 1997," he said. "The conditions were perfect in the morning and would reward good golf but you still have to do the work and make the birdies. If you'd offered me a 64 at breakfast I would certainly have taken it."

The two go into the final round with a slim advantage of just one stroke from Goosen on 201 (-15) with defending champion Ernie Els, last year’s runner up Miguel Angel Jimenez and 1997 Classic champion Richard Green all tied on shot further behind world number three Goosen on 202 (-14).

“Overall it was just a day where you had to be very patient,” said Woods. “The wind was blowing, the greens were getting really quick and I was just trying to put the ball in good position to try to be aggressive on putts. When you look at the past champions here, it’s pretty impressive. But I've got 18 more holes with a bunch of guys who have a chance. Hopefully tomorrow I can put together a good round and see what happens.”

Among that 'bunch of guys' is Hansen who continues to hold his nerve despite not having won a title since 2002 and who will again tee off today in the illustrious company of the world number one and world number three.

"I'm proud of the way I held myself up because it's a tough situation," admitted Hansen. "I played with Goosen before, but I hadn't played with Tiger. I shot three under today and although I didn't play that great I kept things together. I can't play Tiger's or Retief's game - my bank manager probably wishes I could - so I just play my own game."

While Woods and Goosen continue their fight with Hansen, they will both be more than aware of the lurking figure of world number five Els. The big South African - winner here in 1994, 2002 and 2005 - sit ominously on the shoulders of the top three without having really set the course on fire.

And if the defending champion can put together one of his famous Classic finishes over the closing round, the name of Els could be on the famous trophy for a remarkable fourth time.

"If I can put it all together with the same rhythm, I can shoot 65, and that's what I need tomorrow," said Els. "I don't know what the weather is going to do. If it really blows, everything changes. If it stays like this, the way I'm hitting it, the way I'm swinging, I'm going to shoot low. I'm going to try to stay away from those silly little mistakes."

With thirteen players separated by just six shots, the destination of the 17th Dubai Desert Classic remains wide open with other European Tour top guns including Nick Dougherty (-13), Henrik Stenson (-11) and Darren Clarke (-10) also still in the hunt.

Besides DUBAL as the main sponsor of the Desert Classic, CNN International, Dubai Waterfront by Nakheel, Emaar and Samsung as co-sponsors, other sponsors include Emirates as official airline and Hole In One Sponsor; official caterer, hotel and challenge match sponsor Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa; Official Bank National Bank of Dubai; official courtesy car BMW; and event newspaper Gulf News.