Jon Rahm carries a slender one-shot cushion into the final round of the Abu Dhabi Championship, with Rory McIlroy two strokes back.
Jon Rahm has his nose in front at the Abu Dhabi Championship. After three rounds, the Spaniard sits atop the leaderboard with a one-shot advantage and one round left to protect it.
Right on his heels are Tyrrell Hatton and Italy's Francesco Laporta, who share second place a single stroke back. Hatton brings plenty of firepower and a fiery competitive streak. Laporta, meanwhile, has the chance to turn a strong week into a career-defining Sunday.
Rory McIlroy is also firmly in the mix, two shots off the pace. The four-time major winner has shown he can make up ground in a hurry, and a two-shot gap is well within range on a course where birdies can arrive in bunches.
With margins this thin, the final round has all the ingredients of a proper showdown. Rahm will need to stay sharp and steady, because anyone in this chasing pack can pounce on a single slip. Expect fireworks.
