REPORT, SCORES FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

                         Stirling man Craig Lee leads by two shots with a round to goin Abu Dhabi
                                            Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c)
CRAIG LEE ON VERGE OF FIRST EUROPEAN TOUR WIN - IF HE CAN MAINTAIN LEAD IN ABU DHABI

Stirling’s Craig Lee moved another step closer to a ‘fairy tale’ victory in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, on a day when Phil Mickelson charged through the field and Rory McIlroy’s challenge was dented by a two-shot penalty.

Joint overnight leader Lee, the World No. 209, carded a three under par third round of 69 for a 12 under par total of 204 to hold a two-stroke lead heading into Sunday's final round, ahead of India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, who fired a fine 66, and American Mickelson, who went three shots lower with a scorching 63.

McIlroy would have been just a shot behind Lee after posting his fourth birdie of the round on the final hole, but the former World No. 1 had to call a two-shot penalty on himself on the second hole for not taking full relief from an area of ground under repair, meaning he signed for a two under par 70 and now starts the final round three shots back instead.

That left Lee with a bit more breathing space at the top of the leaderboard as he looks to take inspiration from Welshman Jamie Donaldson who held off another of the world’s top players – Justin Rose - to win the Falcon Trophy 12 months ago, ahead of a field which also contained Tiger Woods and McIlroy.

This time Lee will have five-time Major Champion Mickelson for company in the final group, but the Scot admits Donaldson’s unheralded victory last year has given him hope of pulling off a special win of his own.

“You can look back on that and say it is possible and fairy tales do happen,” he said. “So I just have to go out and play the best I can.”

Lee lost in a play-off to Thomas Björn in last year’s Omega European Masters in Switzerland, and he feels his game is progressing in the right direction to finally become a European Tour champion for the first time at the age of 36.

“It would mean a lot for me to win,” he said. “From where my career was three years ago, it's just sort of starting to gradually get better and better and steadier and steadier, which is probably the most important part. To come out on top tomorrow would be a joyful occasion.”

Having started the day eight shots off the pace, just one shot inside the cut, Mickelson illuminated The National Course with a mesmerising 63 that included nine birdies and an eagle three on the par five eighth hole, but also two bogeys.

Playing alongside Seve Benson, Mickelson produced a shot from the dusty ground on the last hole that another Seve – the legendary Spaniard Ballesteros – would have been proud off to find the green, before putting the finishing touches to his fine round by sinking the 45ft birdie putt.

“It was a fun round today,” said Mickelson. “I knew that just making the cut, I needed to make a low one.

“’I’m still a few shots back heading into tomorrow's final round, but I love the fact that I'm in contention and I have an opportunity here in the first week of the year, and here in Abu Dhabi where we've had some great weather on a wonderful golf course.”

Bhullar carded six birdies in his error free round of 66 to also move to ten under par, and he will join Lee and Mickelson in the final group as he chases a maiden title. A shot further back is McIlroy whose round had progressed quietly but effectively until the rules infringement was brought to his attention by Ricardo Gonzalez’s Scottish caddie Dave Renwick.

After finding a marked gallery crossway with his drive on the second hole, McIlroy dropped the ball within a club’s length, but when he played his second shot his left foot crossed over the line demarking the area of ground under repair, meaning he had to take a two-shot penalty, changing his par five into a double bogey seven. 
Caddie Renwick waited until after the round to tell McIlroy so as not to distract him but also in time to make sure the Northern Irishman could review the situation before signing his scorecard.

Had the violation come to light after McIlroy signed his card, he would have been disqualified.

“I guess I just have to try to make up those shots as early as possible tomorrow, and try to get off to a fast start,” said McIlroy.

 “I felt like I hung in there well and had a lot of opportunities on the back nine that I didn't take.  It was nice to birdie 18 but it was all sort of in vain, so I'll need to go out there and get off to a good one tomorrow.”

Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal shares fourth place with McIlroy on nine under par 207 following a four under par 68.

ALL THE THIRD-ROUND TOTALS

Par 216 (3x72)
204 C Lee (Sco) 68 67 69

206 G Bhullar (Ind) 72 68 66, P Mickelson (USA) 73 70 63

207 P Larrazábal (Esp) 69 70 68, R McIlroy  (Nir) 70 67 70

208 T Jaidee (Tha) 70 70 68, M Jiménez (Esp) 73 68 67, M Hoey  (NIr) 69 71 68, R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 67 68 73, M Baldwin (Eng) 67 72 69

209 P Hanson (Swe) 70 70 69, T Björn (Den) 70 67 72

210 M Kaymer (Ger) 70 71 69, H Otto (RSA) 70 71 69, J Luiten (Ned) 68 70 72, G Coetzee (RSA) 68 70 72, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 73 65 72, T Hatton (Eng) 69 71 70, J Lima  (Por) 68 75 67

211 S Gallacher (Sco) 70 73 68, R Gonzalez (Arg) 71 66 74, E Pepperell (Eng) 70 72 69, M Warren (Sco) 68 73 70, A Quiros  (Esp) 71 70 70

212 T Aiken (RSA) 70 73 69, P McGinley (Irl) 68 72 72, A Levy (Fra) 74 69 69, D Willett  (Eng) 73 63 76, E Molinari  (Ita) 70 71 71, R Wattel  (Fra) 67 75 70, A Sullivan (Eng) 73 70 69, M Siem  (Ger) 69 70 73, R Karlsson (Swe) 73 67 72

213 R Santos  (Por) 70 72 71, R Jacquelin (Fra) 71 72 70, T Lewis (Eng) 71 70 72, B Grace  (RSA) 73 70 70, W Ormsby (Aus) 69 73 71

214 M Kieffer (Ger) 71 71 72, E Grillo (Arg) 72 72 70, M Manassero (Ita) 71 73 70, L Donald  (Eng) 70 73 71, S Garcia  (Esp) 76 68 70, O Fisher  (Eng) 69 72 73, J Carlsson (Swe) 73 70 71

215 S Benson (Eng) 73 70 72, D Clarke (NIr) 74 69 72, B Stone (RSA) 71 71 73, T Olesen (Den) 74 70 71, C Montgomerie  (Sco) 73 68 74, D Fichardt (RSA) 70 70 75, D Van Der Walt (RSA) 68 73 74

216 E De La Riva  (Esp) 70 74 72, J Donaldson (Wal) 73 70 73, N Elvira  (Esp) 72 70 74, A Cañizares  (Esp) 71 69 76, C Wood  (Eng) 71 73 72, D Howell (Eng) 73 71 72, P Casey  (Eng) 72 71 73

217 J Quesne  (Fra) 71 72 74, P Whiteford (Sco) 74 70 73, S Webster (Eng) 69 73 75, D McGrane (Irl) 70 72 75, J Jeong (SKor) 70 71 76, J Campillo (Esp) 72 72 73, J Olazábal (Esp) 74 70 73

218 J Singh (Ind) 69 75 74, P Waring  (Eng) 73 71 74, S Kapur (Ind) 71 72 75

219 G Maybin (NIr) 73 70 76, M Carlsson  (Swe) 71 71 77, R Bland (Eng) 71 73 75

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS