Shane Lowry, Francesco Molinari and Min Woo Lee tied at the top in Abu Dhabi

The trio head into Sunday’s final round on 13 under par with a three-strong group one shot back.

Former Open champions Shane Lowry and Francesco Molinari share the lead with Min Woo Lee ahead of the final round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as the cream rose to the top on day three.

Irishman Lowry began the day three shots off the lead but produced a third-round 66, which included a hole-out eagle from the sixth fairway, to move to 13 under par and reach the summit.

Australian Lee made seven birdies and one bogey in his 66, with the highlight of his round coming at the short fourth as he almost made a hole-in-one.

Halfway co-leader Molinari started brightly on Saturday, carding birdies at the second and third, but bogeyed the fifth before staging a fightback on the back nine that saw the Italian pick up shots at the 10th and 18th to shoot 69 and join Lowry and Lee at the top.

Lowry is aiming to become a two-time winner of this event after claiming the title in 2019.

He said: “First tournament of the year, you don’t know what’s going to happen. My thing would be I try and give myself as many chances to win as I can and at some stage hopefully it happens.

“Tomorrow I’ve got a chance to go out there and do something special, so hopefully I can bring the game that I brought the last few days and roll a few putts in as well and you never know.”

Speaking about his extraordinary eagle at the sixth, Lowry added: “I had a nice number. I had 162 yards and it looked like at the time there wasn’t much wind, it was just a nice eight iron.

“I was just trying to cut it off the flag but hit it straight at it. Once it bounced in, it was a Brucie Bonus because I had given myself a few chances early doors and didn’t really hole much.

Scot Grant Forrest, France’s Victor Perez and Swede Sebastian Soderberg sit one shot off the lead on 12 under.

Three-time major champion Padraig Harrington is in the four-strong group another stroke back after reeling off six successive birdies in his flawless 64.

Pos.PlayerTo ParR1R2R3
1MOLINARI, Francesco-13676769
LEE, Min Woo-13686966
LOWRY, Shane-13677066
4FORREST, Grant-12716865
SÖDERBERG, Sebastian-12677166
PEREZ, Victor-12716568
7MIGLIOZZI, Guido-11656971
MERONK, Adrian-11706768
HARRINGTON, Padraig-11687364
ROZNER, Antoine-11696868
11NOREN, Alex-10726668
OLESEN, Thorbjørn-10696968
SHARMA, Shubhankar-10677069
BLAND, Richard-10716966
SYME, Connor-10687464
16SCRIVENER, Jason-9657072
KAWAMURA, Masahiro-9677070
HØJGAARD, Nicolai-9716769
COETZEE, George-9686871
MOLINARI, Edoardo-9677268
WINTHER, Jeff-9736866
LARRAZÁBAL, Pablo-9706968
23JAMIESON, Scott-8676972
OTAEGUI, Adrian-8736867
SULLIVAN, Andy-8726967
26TARRIO, Santiago-7696971
CABRERA BELLO, Rafa-7696971
DONALD, Luke-7647570
POWER, Seamus-7667370
JORDAN, Matthew-7697169
HELLIGKILDE, Marcus-7717167
MACINTYRE, Robert-7707069
33HATTON, Tyrrell-6726771
WHITNELL, Dale-6687270
LEVY, Alexander-6686874
WALLACE, Matt-6717168
37DONALDSON, Jamie-5716971
BJÖRK, Alexander-5716575
WESTWOOD, Lee-5697369
WU, Ashun-5707269
KIMSEY, Nathan-5717169
42HANNA, Chase-4687272
PAVON, Matthieu-4707072
VAN DRIEL, Darius-4726971
KIEFFER, Maximilian-4697271
MORRISON, James-4717071
STENSON, Henrik-4687470
48WIESBERGER, Bernd-3726774
HUNDEBØLL, Oliver-3726774
HILLIER, Daniel-3726873
FERGUSON, Ewen-3697173
CROCKER, Sean-3726972
FLEETWOOD, Tommy-3687372
CATLIN, John-3707172
POULTER, Ian-3717072
RAMSAY, Richie-3707172
MANSELL, Richard-3736971
LUITEN, Joost-3736971
59BJØRN, Thomas-2697273
WARREN, Marc-2726775
KINHULT, Marcus-2697075
VÄLIMÄKI, Sami-2677572
ARMITAGE, Marcus-2717172
64STRYDOM, Ockie-1717173
ELVIRA, Nacho-1726776
JANEWATTANANOND, Jazz-1756773
67FOX, RyanPar716679
BRADBURY, DanPar726777
CUT
69BRUN, Julien-17172-
HILL, Calum-16875-
KNAPPE, Alexander-17271-
WARING, Paul*-17370-
HIDALGO, Angel-17073-
MCKIBBIN, Tom-17271-
75LIU, Yan WeiPar7074-
GREEN, Gavin*Par7272-
DU PLESSIS, Hennie*Par7371-
SCHOTT, FreddyPar7173-
CAMPILLO, JorgePar7074-
HORSFIELD, Sam*Par7272-
WILSON, OliverPar7470-
VON DELLINGSHAUSEN, Nicolai*Par7272-
DE JAGER, LouisPar7371-
84HUIZING, Daan+17570-
SMITH, Jordan*+17372-
LINDBERG, Mikael+17669-
LAGERGREN, Joakim+17174-
COCKERILL, Aaron+17471-
BESSELING, Wil*+17372-
PIETERS, Thomas+17372-
SOUTHGATE, Matthew*+17273-
KORHONEN, Mikko*+17273-
SAMOOJA, Kalle+17075-
BEKKER, Oliver+17372-
GAVINS, Daniel*+17471-
96LAW, David+27274-
PULKKANEN, Tapio*+27175-
KJELDSEN, Søren*+27175-
NØRGAARD, Niklas*+27373-
100LOMBARD, Zander*+37572-
SHINKWIN, Callum+37176-
ZANOTTI, Fabrizio*+37473-
103STRAKA, Sepp*+47573-
REED, Patrick+47276-
COLSAERTS, Nicolas*+47573-
DANTORP, Jens+47771-
PEPPERELL, Eddie*+47375-
RITCHIE, JC*+47276-
VEERMAN, Johannes*+47573-
SCHNEIDER, Marcel+47474-
111GUERRIER, Julien+57673-
ARNAUS, Adri*+57376-
KRUYSWIJK, Jacques+57871-
FREIBURGHAUS, Jeremy*+57772-
KOFSTAD, Espen*+57574-
WANG, Jeunghun*+57574-
117FAKORI, El Mehdi* (AM)+67575-
PAUL, Yannik+67575-
LONG, Hurly+67872-
120DUBUISSON, Victor+77675-
HARDING, Justin+78071-
NEMECZ, Lukas+77576-
123FISHER, Ross+107876-
124LI, Haotong+118471-
125ABOU EL ELA, Issa (AM)+178180-
RETDLAWRENCE, Thriston*+271--
Updated: November 29, 2023