Tyrrell Hatton is eager to continue his excellent start to the season as he heads into the final day of the 2021 Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers with a chance of claiming a second victory in three events.
The Englishman won the season opening Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship for a fourth Rolex Series victory and then finished in the top 25 in Dubai last week.
A third round 66 moved him three shots off the lead after 54 holes at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club and he is well placed to extend his lead in the fledgling Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex.
An early victory on the Arabian Peninsula has laid the foundations for successful seasons in recent years, with Tommy Fleetwood and Lee Westwood winning the Race to Dubai, and Shane Lowry claiming The Open Championship since 2017.
And with the Ryder Cup points race having restarted, Hatton is eager to keep his foot down.
Look out. Just one back 👍#SaudiIntlGolf pic.twitter.com/nSMOdcX8zM
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 6, 2021
"With The Ryder Cup points starting, it's kind of key to get off to a fast start and obviously Abu Dhabi was amazing," he said. "Everyone's naturally a little bit rusty when you start the year so to nip a win is always a good start.
"Those guys obviously went on to great things that year and obviously I'll try my best to keep that run going for that."
Hatton will need to overturn World Number One Dustin Johnson at the top of the leaderboard if he is to make it seven European Tour wins, and he feels his improving putter will give him his best chance.
"Feel like I putted pretty well today, whereas other days, I didn't really hole too much," he said. "That was the difference really today, even though the score was one shot better than round one or two, I just felt uncomfortable on the greens.
"I'll take confidence from that going into tomorrow. Just try to go out and put a good round of golf together, what we do every time we tee it up, and tomorrow is going to be no different."
