Lowry just three back in Abu Dhabi as McIlroy suffers late double bogey blues
Paul Waring. Picture: Getty Images
Rory McIlroy suffered a nightmare finish for the second day running as Shane Lowry roared in to the mix with a super 66 in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
McIlroy was seven-under for the day for the second day running but after making a triple bogey six at the 17th on Friday, he racked up a double bogey seven at the 18th in a third round 69 after driving into water left.
As a result, the world number three heads into the final round at Yas Links tied for 13th on 13-under, five shots behind leader Paul Waring who struggled to a one-over 73 to lead by just one shot from Denmark’s Niklas Norgaard on 18-under.
McIlroy will need a low final round to clinch the first or second place finish he needs to wrap up the Race to Dubai a week early.
“Yeah untimely mistake just like yesterday on 17 and dug myself a little bit of a hole to get out of, but depending on what the leaders do, I can still go into tomorrow feeling like I have half a chance,” McIlroy said.
He admitted he was frustrated by another late mistake.
“A little bit, yeah. Playing the last two holes in two days over two days in a row is not ideal. Cost myself obviously a few shots there. You know, wind got up a little bit this afternoon.
“So the leaders weren't getting away, which was nice and I was making a little bit of a charge. And yeah, just one mistake, that drive on 18, and with it playing so much into the wind. With the third shot, the layup was very difficult to try to take on the water. I had to lay up down the right and I still had 222 yards for my fourth.@
Believing he atiln has a chance, he added: “Absolutely. I bogeyed the first today and doubled the last but in between, there was some really good golf, same as yesterday.
“ I just need to put it all together and play the way I've been playing and keep the big mistakes and big numbers off my card and if I can do that and post a score, you never know.”
Lowry has an even better chance as he tackles the final group of the third year running looking for a better return that the rounds of 77 and 76 that left him outside the top 10.
He has given himself a chance of notching his first individual win since the 2023 BMW PGA after his 66 left him tied for third on 15-under, just three shots behind Waring .
Playing with 12 new clubs in the bag, the Offaly man made an eagle and four birdies to race to the turn a spectacular six under 30.
The back nine was more pedestrian but he eased the frustration of a bogey at the 17th by rolling in a 25 footer for birdie at the 18th.
He knows he will need something special to win but he feels he’s got the game to pull it off if his putter co-operates.
“To be honest, the first two days, I got off to a really average start,” Lowry said. “I just needed to get off to a better start today, and I did. I kind of kicked on on the front nine and then got a bit stale on the back nine.
“I'm happy with my score… I think I'll be within touching distance going into tomorrow, and if I can fire a low one tomorrow, I can be there or thereabouts.”
While he won with McIlroy in New Orleans in April, Lowry is still seeking an individual win and after six top 15s in a row coming into the week, he admits it all comes down to the blade.
“I've been driving the ball really good; my iron play has been great,” said 2019 champion Lowry, who is tied for third with Sebastian Soberberg, Tommy Fleetwood and Thorbjorn Olesen and set for the final group for the third year in a row.
“I probably haven't been holing as many putts as I would like. I feel like I'm putting all right, hitting good putts, not missing the shorter ones. And I feel like, if a few putts drop, I can be dangerous.
“In saying that, I've 12 new clubs in the bag this week. I have a new driver and new set of irons. What's gone on before me, I haven't really thought about?
“I've just been trying to get used to this, and it's going very well so far. Hopefully it keeps going that way.”
Tom McKibbin, meanwhile, raced up the leaderboard when he made four birdies and an eagle in his first 11 holes.
But the Newtownabbey star bogeyed the 17th and 18th to shoot a 68 that left him tied for 28th on 11-under.
As a result, he’s projected to fall three spots to 19th in the Race to Dubai.
That leaves him projected to slip to 13th in the battle for 10 PGA Tour cards awarded to the leading non-exempt players after next week’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
