Ernie Els leads by two shots from Colin Montgomerie going into today's third round of the Million Dollar challenge in South Africa. Els, with an 11-under-par total of 133 after two rounds, is trying to win the annual invitational event for the first time in eight attempts.

The South African hit six birdies for a round of 66 yesterday on greens made difficult by the heavy rains which swept down on the Gary Player-designed Country Club course.

Sergio Garcia surged up the leaderboard with five birdies over the first five holes of the second round and was one stroke from the lead before spoiling a brilliant round by dropping two shots at the last to drop back to joint third with Lee Westwood, three behind Montgomerie.

The Spanish teenager slapped a bunker shot into the water on the 18th and finished with a double bogey after missing a shortish putt.

"I don't like the greens when they are soft. For me I find it's impossible to play. I'm really mad. What happened on the 18th, that bunker was terrible."

Els is the only player in the elite 12-man field not to have dropped a shot. "I'm very pleased with the way things are going," said the relaxed South African.

Overnight leader Paul Lawrie had a miserable day, hitting as many bogeys as Els had birdies, and he slipped down the leaderboard to three under after a round of 76.

Defending champion Nick Price dropped two shots yesterday but remains a threat, seven shots behind the leader with two rounds to play.