Shane Lowry tightened his grip at the top of the leaderboard at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Friday, pulling three shots clear heading for the final day of action.
The Offaly man started the day one shot ahead of Louis Oosthuizen, but a five-under-par 67 further strengthened his position, with South African Richard Sterne now his closest challenger.
Ian Poulter - who eagled his final hole - is a further two back but Lowry is very much the man to catch at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Lowry, chasing his first European Tour crown since 2015, showcased his impressive short-game skills on a breezy afternoon, carding seven birdies on his way to 17-under overall, while Oosthuizen faded after a three-over-par 75..
Playing in his first event since the World Cup of Golf in November, Lowry matched the course record at Abu Dhabi Golf Club with an opening round 62 and followed it up with a 70 on Thursday.
Leader by 3.
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 18, 2019
Third round 67.
Posing for pictures.
Shane Lowry can do no wrong at the moment. pic.twitter.com/v4z2EcrnxW
Sterne is Lowry's nearest challenger on 14-under, courtesy of a stunning eagle at the 10th where he holed his third shot from the fairway.
He hasn't been a tournament winner since the Joburg Open in 2013, and remains keen to make up for lost time by clinching his seventh European Tour title on Saturday.
