Scotland’s Craig Lee will take a two shot lead into the final round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after an enthralling and dramatic Saturday in the Middle East.
The 36-year-old from Stirling, who is yet to win on the European Tour, came into the third round with a share of the lead alongside Rafael Cabrera-Bello, and shot a three-under total of 69 to remain at the summit at 12-under.
Having lost a playoff to Thomas Bjorn in September at the Omega European Masters, Lee is two ahead of India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar and five-time major champion Phil Mickelson, who surged through the field courtesy of a stunning round of 63.
“It's exciting,” said Lee on the prospect of trying to hold off such a stellar chasing pack.
"The quality of the players behind me is nothing I have been used to before.
“I can't control what they are going to do, I just have to go out and play the best I can. I can look back on last year when Jamie Donaldson won and say it's possible and fairytales do happen.”
At the close of play, it had looked as though Lee was only a shot ahead of Rory McIlroy, but the two-time major champion was subsequently was given a two-shot penalty after his round due to an incorrect drop, which saw his third round of 68 revised to a 70.
Dave Renwick, the caddie of McIlroy’s playing partner Ricardo Gonzalez, informed the Northern Irishman that he may have not taken full relief from a spectator crossing on the second hole. Having studied video evidence, McIlroy and John Paramor, the European Tour’s Chief Rules Official, then returned to the hole to examine the area where the drop was taken.
Having looked at the scene, it was then determined that McIlroy’s left foot had touched the white line marking the edge of the crossing, and he was assessed the two shot penalty.
McIlroy explained the situation: “I hit my second shot on the second into the left rough but on the spectator crosswalk. I took a drop and played my shot but I did not notice my left foot was still on the line and you need to take full relief.
“We went out to see it again and see my divot and it was clear I could not have played my shot with my feet anywhere else. It's unfortunate. If anything it was a disadvantage because I dropped it in a bad lie and did not make birdie.”
With his position now at nine-under, McIlroy will have to make up more ground early in the final round. “I have to try to make up the shots as early as possible tomorrow. It gives me a bit of extra motivation.”
Phil Mickelson, who partnered McIlroy on Thursday and Friday, narrowly made the cut at one-under, but produced a scintillating display to move within two shots of the lead after nine birdies, one eagle and two bogeys added up to a nine-under total of 63.
The Open Champion completed in trademark thrilling fashion, after he attempted to reach the par five 18th in two shots from a fairway bunker. His second shot would be wayward, and he would play his third to within 30-feet of the hole. However, the 43-year-old would excite the gallery by holing the putt for a closing birdie that keeps him in position of a maiden victory in the Middle East.
“It was not a smart decision out of the bunker to go for the green, but I don't know, that's just what I do,” joked Mickelson, who is at ten-under alongside Bhullar.
“Bones did not like the decision and I don't blame him. It wasn't probably my smartest play.
“I hit a terrible shot but because it was sitting on a fairly hard, packed lie, I was able to go in steep and keep it low underneath the trees and I had plenty of green to work with.
“I will still be back a few shots, I anticipate, heading into tomorrow's round but I love the fact that I'm in contention and I have an opportunity here in the first week of the year.”
After an opening round of 73, Mickelson has progressively improved, with a 70 on Friday before Saturday’s showcase. The popular would number five will be hoping to maintain that trend tomorrow.
“What I like is that it feels better each day. The first day, I felt terrible. The second day, half of it started to come around and today it started to feel pretty good and hopefully I'll be able to build on it again tomorrow.”
With the major winning experience of Mickelson and McIlroy to contend with, Gaganjeet Bhullar is hoping to win his maiden European Tour title.
“Ever since I've arrived here, I've been striking the ball really good,” he said. “I knew that I could go low, and thankfully today was one of my lucky days.
“I had a lot of good breaks, putted really well and gave myself a lot of opportunities of making birdies and I guess at the end of the day I'm quite happy with 66.”
The Indian, who has won five times on the Asian Tour, is relishing the opportunity of playing alongside Phil Mickelson and Craig Lee on Sunday.
“Last year I got paired up with a lot of the big names in the world and it was quite good. You get to learn a lot of new stuff about yourself, about the game, and I think it will be one of those enjoyable Sundays.”
Also hoping for an enjoyable Sunday are Spaniards Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal, who will partner Rory McIlroy in the penultimate pairing of what should be a compelling day at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.