ESPN.com · Jan 20, 2018
Rory McIlroy one off leaders after third-round 65 in Abu Dhabi
Rory McIlroy will begin the final round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship one shot behind co-leaders Thomas Pieters and Ross Fisher after producing a sensational 65 on Saturday.
Playing in his first event since calling an early end to his injury-plagued and winless season in October last year, four-time major champion McIlroy came into the third round three shots behind Ryder Cup partner Pieters after following up Thursday's 69 with a sparkling 66 on Friday.
And the Northern Irishman continued to make big strides up the leaderboard on day three, carding eight birdies and a solitary bogey to get to 16-under par and close the gap to a single stroke.