Two-time major champion Jon Rahm shot a six-under-par 66 to give himself the outright lead heading into the final day of the Abu Dhabi Championship.
After a slow start, the 31-year-old Spaniard turned up the heat on the back nine and went five-under thru nine holes, hitting an eagle between a pair of birdies on holes 10, 11 and 12 at Yas Links.
He finished a shot in front of Englishman Tyrell Hatton and Italian Francesco Laporta, who are sitting on 17-under after rounds of 67 on day three.
Rory McIlroy enjoyed a brilliant second day in Abu Dhabi and kept himself firmly in contention heading into the final day after going five-under for his third round – two shots behind leader Rahm.
McIlroy hit eight birdies on day three but will be disappointed after a double-bogey on the 10th, which stopped him from finishing level with leader Rahm.
The two-time Masters winner was pleased with the way he fought back, and said: “I played some really good golf out there but I’m also a little rueful. I felt like I had some really good momentum coming off the back of the front nine.
“Just the bunker shot came out a lot faster than I anticipated, and then over the green and it was sort of dead from there. I followed another poor shot with another mistake at the third and ended up making a mess and made double.
“But I fought back and made birdies on the next four holes. So it was a good bounce back. Overall, a good day.
“If I can just limit the mistakes, there’s enough good golf. There’s enough birdies. There’s enough opportunities. I can play a clean round of golf tomorrow, I won’t be too far away.”
Adam Scott sits on his own in fifth while David Puig and Englishman Matthew Jordan are a shot further back on 14-under.
Read MoreSpare us the excuses: LIV Golf was always about the money
Rory McIlroy admits video footage 'doesn't look very good' after being hit with two-shot penalty
Tiger Woods set for 2027 return to golf and tipped to play two tournaments
