Shane Lowry remains on course to claim his first European Tour title since 2015 after extending his advantage to three shots on day three of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
The 31- year-old’s most recent of his three victories at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was over three years ago, but he is in pole position in Abu Dhabi with one round remaining after posting a third-round 67.
Lowry showcased his short-game prowess on a breezy afternoon at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, mixing seven birdies – including three in a row from the sixth – with two bogeys on Friday to get to 17-under par.
Sterne was Lowry’s nearest challenger on 14 under following his third-round 69, while Ian Poulter finished his round with an eagle to head into the final day in third place on 12 under.
Lowry began his third round with a one-shot lead over Sterne and Louis Oosthuizen after following up Wednesday’s sensational 62 with a 70 on Thursday.
Sterne drained his monster birdie putt at the 15th from around 40 feet to keep in touch, but Lowry also made a birdie from some 15 feet at the course’s fourth par three to get to 17 under and regain his three-stroke lead.
Sterne has not been in the winner’s circle since clinching his sixth European Tour title at the Joburg Open in 2013.
He is happy to be in the reckoning with one round left to play.
‘It’s nice to be in contention,’ he said. ‘It’s been a long time.
‘I’ve managed to win a few in my life, so hopefully there’s something left there, and if we can have a chance coming down the last five or six, that would be a nice way to finish.’
Oosthuizen birdied the final hole to finish the day three over par and dropping back 10 places to share 12th.
