Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship 2016: Saturday Leaderboard Scores, Highlights
Early morning fog in Abu Dhabi delayed the start of Saturday’s play at the 2016 HSBC Championship, but there was still plenty of top-quality golf to enjoy when the clouds finally lifted.
Branden Grace, Ian Poulter, Joost Luiten, Rickie Fowler and Rory McIlroy share a five-way lead at the top of the tree on 10 under par, with Round 2 leader Andy Sullivan carding an ugly triple bogey on his final hole of the day to fall a shot back.
A lack of light suspended the third round until early on Sunday morning, where the front-runners will be looking to get themselves in position for a Sunday charge. Here’s a look at the top 10 as darkness descended in Abu Dhabi:
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| Golfer | To Par | Round 3 Score | Holes |
| Branden Grace | -10 | -6 | 16 |
| Ian Poulter | -10 | -5 | 13 |
| Rickie Fowler | -10 | -4 | 11 |
| Joost Luiten | -10 | -3 | 10 |
| Rory McIlroy | -10 | -2 | 9 |
| Thomas Pieters | -9 | -7 | 15 |
| Henrik Stenson | -9 | -2 | 10 |
| Robert Rock | -9 | -2 | 10 |
| Rafa Cabrera-Bello | -9 | -2 | 9 |
| Andy Sullivan | -9 | +1 | 9 |
Charging Day in Abu Dhabi
Conditions were ideal on Saturday at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, with precious little wind present, and the excellent scoring reflected as much.
Endless players surged up the leaderboard to keep Sullivan company, with Grace the most notable of the low scorers.
The South African carded six birdies without a single blemish to move on to 10 under par through 16 holes.
Joining him there is pre-tournament favourite McIlroy, who just about had enough time to notch his third birdie of the day on the eighth and hit the summit, as European Tour’s video shows:
McIlroy’s Ryder Cup team-mate Ian Poulter also produced the goods on Day 3, as he chalked up five birdies through 13 holes to walk off at 10 under par. Luiten and Fowler were three and four under respectively as they joined Poulter, McIlroy and Grace on 10 under for the tournament
As for Sullivan, everything was going according to plan until the treacherous par-four ninth, where the Englishman lost his drive and was forced back to the tee—per European Tour:
Sullivan was sitting pretty at 12 under after birdies on the seventh and eighth, but he walked off of nine with an ugly triple bogey to fall to nine under par and a shot back on the leaders.
Jordan Spieth just about managed to get his round finished, and it was a very good one, too.
The American carded a four-under 68 to move inside the top 15 and three shots adrift of the top, with his miracle recovery shot on the fifth hole the highlight of his day. European Tour’s video shows the youngster’s brilliance from a long way off the fairway:
The third round will conclude on Sunday morning, and that much could well play into Spieth’s hands.
If the leaders aren’t too far in front, then Spieth can start his final round recharged and ready to post a strong total.
It’s all to play for in Abu Dhabi.
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