Shane Lowry’s bid to become a two-time Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winner remains firmly on track after he shot a third-round 66.
The Irishman heads into the final round tied alongside Francesco Molinari and Min Woo Lee at the top of the leaderboard.
Lowry carded a spectacular eagle, five birdies and a solitary bogey on Saturday to move to 13 under par.
The 2019 champion spent most of the back nine at the summit before his only bogey of the day at the 17th and a closing birdie from Lee up at the 18th saw the Australian take over at the top.
But the Major champion bounced back brilliantly, nervelessly holing his birdie putt from around nine feet at the last.
And midway co-leader Molinari made it a three-way tie at the top after finishing his third-round 69 with a birdie from five feet in the final group.
Lee carded seven birdies and one bogey in his 66, with the highlight of his round coming at the short fourth as he almost holed his tee shot for an ace.
The leading trio have a high-class chasing pack just behind them, with France’s Victor Perez, Scot Grant Forrest and Swede Sebastian Söderberg at 12 under.
Three-time Major champion Pádraig Harrington is in the four-strong group another shot back after reeling off six successive birdies in his flawless 64.
South African George Coetzee is on nine under (T16) after a third-round 71.
– Report from DP World Tour website
