ABU DHABI, Scott Jamieson will aim to become just the second wire-to-wire Rolex Series winner as he clung on to his lead at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, carding a superb birdie on the final hole to move one clear of Shane Lowry and Thomas Pieters.
The Scot has now lead each round thus far by a single shot, and will play alongside 2019 champion Lowry and Pieters in the final round, targeting a life-changing maiden Rolex Series win after a four under 78 left him on an 11 under par total.
Indeed, Lowry’s own win in Abu Dhabi in 2019 is the only wire-to-wire victory in Rolex Series history and the Irishman will be hoping to draw on those happy memories as he searches for a first title since his famous Open Championship triumph in 2019.
Lowry played alongside his fellow five-time winner on Tour, Pieters, and they both signed for five under par 67s to move to ten under. World Number Seven Viktor Hovland is in the hunt despite a bogey at the par five final hole – he sits alongside India’s Shubhankar Sharma on eight under, three off the pace.
Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello is a shot further back on seven under, joined by Englishmen James Morrison and Ian Poulter.
Englishman Josh Hill, who was born in the UAE, signed for 69 in round three to finish level par going into the final day at Yas Links. The 17-year-old capitalised on more favourable conditions today, making the cut with three birdies in the final four holes of his second round this morning.
Hill, who won the Abu Dhabi Amateur Championship in December to qualify this week, holed six birdies and an eagle at hole 7 in round three to consolidate an already impressive Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship for the youngster.
Leading in to Sunday, Jamieson said: “After yesterday, certainly the whole day seems a little more straightforward but it still wasn’t easy. The greens were considerably quicker and there was still a decent amount of breeze.
“But funny you say that, when I was on the last green, I noticed no one had made birdie so I was happy to knock in a six footer.
“It would be massive, a game changer to win a tournament of this stature. There’s definitely been some great champions here, and that’s an awful long way to go.”
Winner of this event in 2019, Lowry said: “It felt good. Felt comfortable. I had a lovely time with Thomas. I enjoy his company. We played some good golf. Alex struggled but rallied at the end and did very well. It was just a pleasant day out there. It’s a nice golf course. It’s tricky, a bit of wind blowing, I quite like it. I like the way it fits my eye.
“So yeah, I’m looking forward to tomorrow. I see Scott is on 10-under. Whoever I’m paired with tomorrow it will be a good day but there’s one thing in my mind, to be standing here tomorrow with the trophy again.
“It’s great for the first tournament of the year to be in contention. There’s been plenty of times my first tournament of the year I’ve missed cuts ask stuff like that and it gets you off to really bad starts. It’s nice to be where I am, and like I said, I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”
Source: Emirates News Agency