ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – Aaron Rai heads into the final round of the Abu Dhabi Championship with a one-stroke lead as he looks to win his first European Tour title in five years.
On a low-scoring day at Yas Links, Lai shot a 6-under 66 in Saturday’s third round to move to 20 under for the week in the penultimate event of the 2025 season.
advertisement
Nicolai Heigo, 65, and Tommy Fleetwood, 67, who won in 2017 and 2018 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, tied for second place, with Nacho Elvira, 65, one step further behind.
Second-ranked Rory McIlroy, who leads the annual Race to Dubai rankings, made six birdies in his first 11 holes and was on his way to contention, but his round stalled and he shot a 14-under 66, six shots behind the leader.
Rai’s second win on the European Tour, and most recent, came at the 2020 Scottish Open. The British player, ranked 30th in the world, won the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship last August.
___
AP Golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
