Story highlights
A six-under par round of 66 helps Tiger Woods to a share of lead in Abu Dhabi Golf Championship
American tied with England's Robert Rock on 11-under par
Rory McIlroy and Francesco Molinari in a group two behind on nine-under par
Leaderboard tightly packed with 14 players within four shots of the lead
Tiger Woods will take a share of the lead into the final round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship after posting a faultless six-under par round of 66 on Saturday.
The former world number one, who is bidding to win his second successive tournament after claiming victory in the Chevron World Challenge at the end of last year, is currently tied with Englishman Robert Rock at 11-under par.
Rock had an equally impressive third round at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club firing a 66 to set up an intriguing final day battle with the rapidly improving Woods.
“I played well today. Not doing a lot of things right, but not doing a lot of things wrong either,” Woods said, AFP reported.
The 14-time major winner was pleased with his consistency and admitted that his game was progressing, but wasn’t getting carried away even though his recent form suggests a return to something approaching his former self.
“There are a ton of guys with a chance to win. We have not separated ourselves from the field. I need to go out there and put together a solid round of golf,” he added, AFP reported.
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Rory McIlroy, Wood’s playing partner for the third successive round, is just two shots behind the lead on nine-under par along with Italy’s Francesco Molinari, Swede Peter Hanson – who had a 64 on Saturday – and Scotland’s Paul Lawrie.
One shot further back are a further four players: South Africa’s George Coetzee and James Kingston, France’s Jean-Baptiste Gonnet and Thorbjorn Olessen from Denmark.
Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell is currently in another four-way tie for 11th place on seven-under par.
Rock, who birdied the 17th and 18th to tie the lead, will play alongside Woods for the first time on Sunday.
It’s an experience he’s looking forward to.
“How many chances I will get to do that, it’s not clear. I want to at least say that I’ve done that once. I think it will be all right,” Rock said, AFP reported.