Shane Lowry surges into contention as Rory McIlroy falters late again in Abu Dhabi

Shane Lowry has closed to within three of the lead heading into the final round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Lowry fired a second successive 66 on Saturday to sit on 15-under-par for the tournament and in a tie for third spot.

England's Paul Waring holds a one-shot lead after struggling to a one-over-par 73 following a course-record 61 on Friday.

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Denmark's Niklas Norgaard is in second place on 17-under-par, with Lowry joined on 15-under-par by Thorbjorn Olesen, Sebastian Soderberg and Tommy Fleetwood.

Having made a slow start to the tournament, Lowry has found his groove on the Yas Links as he looks to win his second Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after triumphing in 2019.

The Clara man eagled the par five second hole before picking up four more birdies on the front nine to turn in 30 shots.

He saw plenty of birdie putt burn the edges on the back nine and he bogeyed the par three 17th hole.

But a lovely third shot from a fairway bunker on the last set up him to make a birdie and sign for a 66.

There was more late agony for Rory McIlroy, though, as he fell foul of the closing stretch for the second time this week.

The four-time major champion was seven-under-par for his round on Friday when making a triple-bogey on the par three 17th hole.

And a similar fate befell the Holywood man on Saturday.

Opening his round with a bogey, McIlroy slowly made his way up the leaderboard and was five-under-par for his round when standing on the 18th tee.

But the 35-year-old pulled his tee shot left and it hit the rocks lining the left side of the hole and bounced into the water.

McIlroy had to take a drop and could only advance his third shot up the fairway. Then, after pushing his fourth shot into the greenside bunker, he could not get up and down.

The double-bogey seven saw McIlroy sign for a three-under-par 69 and sits five shots off the lead heading into the final round.

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