Jon Rahm holds a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the Abu Dhabi Championship after carding a six-under-par 66 at Yas Links on Saturday. The 31-year-old Spaniard moved to 18 under par overall, one stroke clear of England's Tyrrell Hatton and Italy's Francesco Laporta, who both sit at 17 under after rounds of 67.
Rory McIlroy, the reigning Masters champion, is two shots off the lead at 16 under following a third-round 67 that included eight birdies but also a double bogey at the 10th and a dropped shot at the 17th. McIlroy acknowledged he will need a low score on Sunday to catch Rahm, saying he aims for something in the mid to low 60s.
Hatton, who briefly drew level with Rahm during the third round after his seventh birdie on the 14th, looks forward to the final-group showdown. "Naturally we are going to want to beat each other. Hopefully I can get off to a good start and put him under some pressure," Hatton said.
Rahm responded to Hatton's challenge with a curling 20-foot birdie putt on the 15th to reclaim the outright lead and finished the round without a single dropped shot. Laporta also produced a bogey-free 67 to remain in contention for his first DP World Tour title.
Australia's Adam Scott stayed bogey-free for the tournament after three rounds, moving into fifth place at 15 under with a 66. England's Matthew Jordan and Spain's David Puig are a shot further back at 14 under.
