McIlroy "Regains Lead"..."5-Under Par Moving Day Surge~"

Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Day 3: Hutton Leads by 1 Stroke, Hatton 2nd, Fleetwood 3rd, Thomas 'Cut Off'

Lori McIlroy is making a bunker shot on the 2nd hole on the third day of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Abu Dhabi (UAE) = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "Moving day spurt."

World No. 6 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) has risen to the top again. On the 24th (Korean time), at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club (par 72, 7,583 yards) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), during the third day of the European Tour Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship (total prize money $8 million), he surged with a 5-under-par round to take a one-stroke lead (13-under-par 203). Tyrrell Hatton (England) is fiercely competing for the win in second place (12-under-par 204).

Starting from second place, 5 strokes behind, McIlroy recorded 1 eagle, 5 birdies, and 2 bogeys. He opened the scoring early with back-to-back birdies on holes 3 and 5. After a bogey on the 7th hole (par 3), he recovered with a birdie on the 8th hole (par 5), then made an eagle on the 10th hole (par 5). Although he had a second bogey on the 13th hole (par 4), he added two more strokes with consecutive birdies on the 15th and 16th holes. His green hit rate of 66.70% showcased his pinpoint iron shots, complemented by an average of 1.60 putts per hole, demonstrating his precise putting.

It is interesting that McIlroy is particularly strong in Abu Dhabi. Despite finishing second four times?in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015?he was left with some regrets. Meanwhile, Hatton faltered with a 1-under-par round. Tommy Fleetwood (England), the two-time defending champion from 2017-2018, holds third place (11-under-par 205). Defending champion Lee Westwood (England) is tied for 60th (1-over-par 217), and 'top favorite' Justin Thomas (USA) was cut.