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.
https://twitter.com/DPWorldTour/status/1484874321705250819
“After yesterday, certainly the whole day seems a little more straightforward but it still wasn’t easy,” said Jamieson. “The greens were considerably quicker and there was still a decent amount of breeze.
“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.”
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.
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.”
Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello is a shot further back on seven under, joined by Englishmen James Morrison and Ian Poulter.