Kaymer ready for final assault
faces stiff challenge from Mcilroy and poulter as he leads by one shot on final day
Abu Dhabi Martin Kaymer has a second Abu Dhabi Golf Championship victory in his sights after another superb round of golf at his favourite National Course yesterday.
The German, who led on all four days when he registered his first European Tour win here in 2008 and then finished tied second when Paul Casey won his second title here last year, birdied on the 18th hole to lift himself into sole leadership with a round of five under 67 and an overall score of 15 under.
However, Kaymer's final round today will not be as easy as it was two years ago, for then he had taken a six-stroke lead into the final day but today he has Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Englishman Ian Poulter, both in tremendous form, just one stroke behind.
In fourth place is Sweden's Peter Hanson whose round of two under ensured he stayed in contention with an overall score of 13 under, while tied for fifth place are Spain's Alvara Quiros, Ireland's Shane Lowry and England's Chris Wood.
Kaymer, who is playing with plates and screws in his foot inserted after a go-karting accident last year, started off in a blazing fashion with three consecutive birdies and ended the front nine with two more to pick up a two-stroke lead at midway stage.
The German started the day two strokes behind leader Rick Kulazc and dropped a shot on the 11th but then steadied himself to play consistently well and then rounded off with a birdie on the final hole, the effort lifting him from a bunch of players who were on under 14.
Earlier, McIlroy and Poulter, playing in the same group finished with identical scores of five under par for the round and will joining Kaymer in the hunt for a slice of the 1.5 million euros on offer and the glittering Falcon Trophy.
"I know how it feels. Three years ago I was leading as well," Kaymer said, looking ahead at the final round. "I was leading by six shots then but tomorrow I'm only leading by one, so it will be nice to expand the lead, maybe a round of 67," he said.
The German said it was quite different carrying the lead now than it was in 2008.
See also Pages 38 & 39
scores
Third round (par 72):
201 - Martin Kaymer (GER) 67-67-67
202 - Ian Poulter (ENG) 65-70-67; Rory McIlroy (NIR) 66-69-67
203 - Peter Hanson (SWE) 66-67-70
204 - Alvaro Quiros (ESP) 66-70-68; Chris Wood (ENG) 70-64-70; Shane Lowry (IRE) 68-65-71
205 - Rick Kulacz (AUS) 69-63-73
206 - Edoardo Molinari (ITA) 69-66-71; Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 69-70-67; Jamie Donaldson (WAL) 70-69-67; Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 67-71-68; Rhys Davies (WAL) 66-68-72
207 - Sergio Garcia (ESP) 66-67-74; Anders Hansen (DEN) 69-70-68; Richard Green (AUS) 70-65-72; Otto Hennie (RSA) 70-67-70; Soren Hansen (DEN) 72-67-68; Ross McGowan (ENG) 69-71-67
208 - Francesco Molinari (ITA) 68-68-72; Paul Lawrie (SCO) 66-70-72; Thomas Aiken (RSA) 67-70-71; Camilo Villegas (COL) 71-68-69; Anthony Kim (USA) 70-70-68.
