Tommy Fleetwood Sets Up Final Round Duel with Aaron Rai
England's Tommy Fleetwood trails fellow Englishman Aaron Rai by just one stroke heading into the final day of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Fleetwood maintained his excellent form with a bogey-free 67, reaching 19-under par.
Fleetwood's Solid Performance
- Only dropped one stroke all week.
- Eagled the seventh hole.
- Scored birdies at the 2nd, 16th, and 18th holes.
- Shares second place with Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard, one stroke behind Rai.
Aaron Rai's Consistency
- Recorded seven birdies and one bogey in a second-round 66.
- Maintained perfect accuracy hitting every fairway and green in regulation on Saturday.
- Currently leading at 20-under par.
Fleetwood on His Game
"I think it was a really good day of patience for me. There was a lot of good scores out there and you're playing with Aaron who played phenomenally well. He was unbelievable today in every department."
"I'm playing very good golf at the moment, and I've found myself in this position a lot throughout the summer, but never take it for granted. This is what we practice for. These are the times of our lives, and I'm enjoying it very much."
"[I am] just grateful for another opportunity to go out there and control what I can control. You know, hopefully I play well. If I don't, dust myself off and go again. But yeah, very excited about the prospects."
Both players are poised for an exciting conclusion at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Author's summary: Tommy Fleetwood holds a narrow one-stroke deficit to Aaron Rai after a flawless 67, setting the stage for a thrilling final round at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.