Jon Rahm will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Abu Dhabi Championship, with Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIlroy among the players breathing down his neck.
Rahm broke out of a three-way tie for the overnight lead with a six-under 66 on Saturday, picking up five shots on the back nine, including an eagle at the 11th.
"Fantastic round. Wishing I would have hit a couple better putts in the last two holes, right, just misread those two putts. But overall, obviously very good golf," said Rahm.
The Spaniard is 18-under overall and a stroke clear of Tyrrell Hatton and Francesco Laporta. They began the third round level with Rahm, who is playing in his first event since leaving the rebel LIV Golf tour last month.
Rahm is targeting his first win outside of LIV since triumphing at the Masters in 2023.
"It would be amazing. It's been a good year so far. But to win again on the DP World Tour would be special," said Rahm.
McIlroy sits two shots off the lead at Yas Links after a five-under 67, having surged with four birdies on the front nine before a double-bogey at the 10th and a dropped shot at the 17th slowed his momentum.
"Encouraged, as I played some really good golf out there but also a little rueful," said McIlroy, who overshot the green on the par-four 10th hole and took a costly six.
He rebounded with four straight birdies but failed to find the green out of the bunker on the par-three 17th and lost ground on Rahm.
"Overall, good day. Kept myself within touching distance and I have a good shot at it tomorrow, which is all I want," said McIlroy.
"I'm going to have to go out and shoot a low one, something in the mid to low 60s to get it done tomorrow, and that will be the goal."
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McIlroy is bidding for a fifth successive Race to Dubai title and record-equalling eighth in total. He trails Eugenio Chacarra and Patrick Reed in this season's standings.
Chacarra is 10 shots off the pace in Abu Dhabi, while Reed lies on a distant one-under after three rounds.