“I would love to go – it’s one of my favourite events,” said the world number two, who last year won at the Emirates club for the second time.

“But my only scare is if I get there and it (war with Iraq) kicks off. How do you get out?

“We’ve spoken to the people over there and they said come, but at the end of last week there was some (British) government advice about not going to Qatar. What’s the big difference between Qatar and Dubai?”

Els concluded by saying that he will have more conversations and will watch the CNN television channel for any developments before making his final decision.

“It was 50-50, then I was leaning towards going. But now I’m going to speak to some people again and see what’s going on,” he added.

Woods is also in the field, but remains a doubtful starter as well. He says his decision will come “in the next couple of days.”

Prior to beating Swede Carl Pettersson yesterday the world number one commented: “Any time you go overseas and there’s war not too far away, it is a danger.”

Asked if he had been in touch with the American government, Woods said his management company had, and when pressed on what advice they had been given answered: “It keeps changing.

“They’re giving the politically correct answers to our questions, which is pretty much nondescript.”

Ken Schofield, executive director of the European tour, said last night that preparations for both tournaments are proceeding. His planned visit to Doha next week will presumably be key in deciding whether the Qatar Masters on March 13-16 goes ahead.

A possible starting date for military action is thought to be March 14 and troops have already assembled in Qatar, which is an hour’s flight from Dubai and that much closer to Iraq.

This week’s tournament was the first time that Els and Woods have been on the same course this year and, after Els’ four wins in five starts and Woods’ recent victory on his return from knee surgery, a clash in Sunday’s final was a mouth-watering prospect.

But Els, one up with one to play, saw Tataurangi hole a 25-foot putt to stay alive on the last – after the South African had hit a chip shot into the bunker between him and the flag.

Tataurangi then hit his tee shot to two feet on the second extra hole to set up victory.

Els has won only two matches in four visits to La Costa and has yet to go beyond the second round in four trips. He added: “I’ve just continued my love affair with this course.

“There was not much I could do about it. Phil hit a great putt on 18, made a great save (from sand) on 19 and then hit a great shot on 20.”

Woods, himself knocked out on the opening day by Australian Peter O’Malley last year, was twice behind to Pettersson early on, but came through to face South Korean KJ Choi today.

Phil Mickelson was the only other top-five seed to survive. While he beat Robert Karlsson at the last, Retief Goosen was beaten four and three by 49-year-old Jay Haas and fifth seed Sergio Garcia went down two and one to defending champion Kevin Sutherland.

Three down with six to play, 60th seed Sutherland – he was 62nd when he won last year – won the next five holes to set up a duel with Justin Rose.

The 22-year-old from Hampshire, delighted to beat David Duval with a birdie at the 20th after the 2001 Open champion three-putted the 19th, said: “I don’t know much about him, but he’s obviously a good match player.

“Standing on the first extra hole I would have put big money on me being unemployed (for the rest of the week), but it all ended up perfectly for me.”

Rose then praised coach David Leadbetter. “It’s amazing – it only takes five minutes. He sees something and has the ability to kind of give you the right feel almost instantly. He’s brilliant.”

Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington are up against members of last September’s American Ryder Cup team – Davis Love for Clarke and Scott Hoch for Harrington.

The two Irishmen both won four and three yesterday, Harrington over John Cook for his first-ever victory at the event and Clarke, winner of the million-dollar title in 2000, over South African Tim Clark.

“I’m pleased with that,” said Harrington. “It’s a long way to come and you don’t want to be one of the 32 going home straightaway. It feels like a wasted journey.

“I was more relaxed about it this time, though, and after my start (three straight birdies) I just played very solid golf.”

Clarke, who has linked up again with Woods’ coach Butch Harmon this year, said: “My expectations are growing day by day.

“That’s mostly to do with the way I’m feeling and the way I’m playing, but it also has a little bit to do with the fact that I am coming back to a place I have good memories of.”

Sadly, there were defeats for Colin Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie and Paul Casey.