Tyrrell Hatton is looking forward to going head to head with Rory McIlroy in a mouthwatering final group on day four of the 2021 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
McIlroy was the man to catch after a stunning opening 64 but when he stumbled in a level par second round, Hatton was on hand to take advantage and lead the way after 36 holes at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
The tables turned again in round three, as McIlroy maintained his momentum with a 67 after picking up a shot early in the day when round two was completed, while Hatton dropped a shot after the resumption and then carded a 71.
That all means the four time Major Championship winner will take a one shot lead over the man seeking a fourth Rolex Series win into the final 18 holes, and Hatton is ready for the challenge.
"It's pretty cool group to be a part of tomorrow," he said. "I'm sure the standard of golf will be pretty good and hoping that I can play well and give myself a chance to win."
I was trying my best and obviously one of them days where I didn't really feel like anything went my way - Tyrrell Hatton
The Englishman's 71 contained three birdies and two bogeys, and Hatton was disappointed with his score despite keeping himself right in the mix.
"I was trying my best and obviously one of them days where I didn't really feel like anything went my way," he said.
"So I guess you're always going to have days like that and you just try and get through it and the good thing is that I'm still in contention going into the final round. Will be obviously one shot back which isn't ideal but a lot can happen in 18 holes. Hopefully things go my way tomorrow.
"It was a difficult day. The conditions were really tough for the whole day. Although I'm pretty disappointed to be honest. I feel like coming back in this morning, I didn't finish off my round too well and I didn't actually do anything too wrong.
"Then today, round three, I just felt like I had nothing really go my way. Hit a couple decent shots and ran into a bunker with a terrible lie and had quite a few putts burning the edge or lipping out. Pretty disappointed."
While many eyes will be on that final group, another Ryder Cup hero and two time winner at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Tommy Fleetwood, is just two shots off the lead.
After sitting three over after 11 holes on Thursday, the Englishman has only dropped one shot since and a second consecutive 67 moved him to 11 under.
The 2017 Race to Dubai champion is seeking a third Rolex Series title and after holing a series of lengthy putts in round three, he is hoping for more of the same with the short stick.
"I think over the course of my career I've been a pretty good putter," he said. "And I think when it's a sort of slow, steady progress, which most things are, it's hard to see the improvement. But I think year-on-year in general, as a yearly thing, my putting has progressively gotten better.
"I think it stands out sometimes when I have weeks where I hit it really good and all you see is the odd putt missing and you feel like putting has cost you a tournament.
"But I've been doing a lot of great work. Worked with Phil (Kenyon) for a long time and everything that goes into it. And it's one of those things, putting has never been a strength for me, so it requires a lot of work and it's just been a lot of progress.
"I've worked really hard on it - psychological side, technical side, so it's nice to hear some compliments about it."
