Hatton holds narrow lead

Terrell Hatton struck a four-under at the National Course of the Abu Dhabi Golf Club on Saturday.

It remains to be seen of Tyrrell Hatton can keep it altogether going into the final round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship on Sunday.
The Englishman struck a four-under at the National Course of the Abu Dhabi Golf Club on Saturday, to hold a narrow one-stroke lead at 13-under heading into the business end of the tournament.
But the 25-year-old would do well to look over his shoulder as the chasing pack resembles rush hour traffic on Shaikh Zayed Road.
There are a host of them, including three-time winner Martin Kaymer, 2014 champion Pablo Larrazabal, Middle Eastern debutant Dustin Johnson, fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat, hot on his trail. They are all on 12-under.
Perhaps, even reigning Race to Dubai champion Henrik Stenson, sitting on 10-under, too has a shot at it, if Hatton even as much as blinks an eye.
Hatton, who has seven top 10s in his last 11 events, could do well to keep in mind what transpired at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai last November, if he harbours hopes of winning a second European Tour title after the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last October.
Back then, Hatton went toe-to-toe with fellow Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick on the final day and right up until the final hole, before a stroke of bad luck ended his bid.
Hatton blew his chances by bogeying the final hole to finish second at 6-under, while Fitzpatrick kept his wits about him and went on to birdie and win by a stroke.
On Saturday though, or for that matter, over the weekend, Hatton has done everything just about right. After knocking in rounds of 67 and 68 over the first two days, Hatton carded another 68 courtesy of five birdies and a bogey to jump five spots up the leaderboard to 13-under and the top position.
It was an unpropitious start as Hatton began with a bogey on the par-3 fourth but he quickly negated that with a birdie on the par-5 eighth. Hatton then went on to birdie the 11th, 13th, 14th and the par-5 18th for the round.
Overnight leader Kaymer, who was on 12-under going into the day, couldn't swell his advantage. The German carded a par round after three birdies and three bogeys.
America's Dustin Johnson shot a brilliant 64 to vault 36 positions up to tied second with 12-under. DJ had six birdies and an eagle, on the par-5 eighth, in his round.
Meanwhile, defending champion Rickie Fowler shot a one-under for an overall five-under to be tied 37th.
james@khaleejtimes.com