ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Aaron Rai will take a one-stroke lead into the ultimate spherical of the Abu Dhabi Championship as he seeks a primary title on the European tour in 5 years.
On a low-scoring day at Yas Hyperlinks, Rai shot 6-under 66 within the third spherical Saturday to maneuver to 20-under par for the week within the next-to-last occasion of the 2025 season.
Nicolai Hojgaard (65) and Tommy Fleetwood (67), the winner in 2017 and 2018 when the occasion was held at Abu Dhabi Golf Membership, have been tied for second place and Nacho Elvira (65) was a shot additional again.
No. 2-ranked Rory McIlroy, the chief of the season-long Race to Dubai standings, surged towards rivalry with six birdies in his first 11 holes however his spherical stalled down the stretch because the wind picked up and he posted a 66 for 14 beneath, six strokes off the lead.
Rai’s second and most up-to-date win on the European tour got here in 2020 on the Scottish Open. The Thirtieth-ranked Englishman gained the Wyndham Championship on the PGA Tour in August final 12 months.
“This is among the largest occasions we have now on the DP World Tour,” Rai stated. “To win this week, to have an opportunity going into the weekend, is nice. Nonetheless a protracted strategy to go and loads of actually good gamers.”
He birdied 5 holes on his entrance 9 and picked up extra pictures on Nos. 11 and 14 earlier than three-putting for bogey on the seventeenth and parring the par-5 18th.
Doubtless Rai’s largest risk is Fleetwood, whose finish to the season has included profitable the Tour Championship for his first PGA Tour title — and choosing up $10 million because the FedEx Cup champion, too — in addition to the India Championship and starring for Europe in its Ryder Cup triumph at Bethpage Black.
“I am enjoying superb golf in the mean time and I’ve discovered myself on this place quite a bit all through the summer time, however by no means take it without any consideration,” Fleetwood stated. “That is what we apply for. These are the occasions of our lives, and I am having fun with it very a lot.”
Fleetwood stated Rai “performed phenomenally effectively.”
“He was unbelievable right now in each division,” he stated.
