• Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, Day Three

Kaymer leads the way in Abu Dhabi

Martin Kaymer will start the final day at the head of the pack after posting an excellent 67 © Getty Images

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Related Links

• News: Day One: Poulter leads the way
  
• News: Day Two: Garcia shines
  
• News: Kaymer holds off Poulter's challenge in Abu Dhabi
  
• Profile: Paul Casey | Sergio Garcia | Rory McIlroy | Colin Montgomerie | Ian Poulter

Martin Kaymer posted his third round of 67 of the week to take a one-stroke lead from Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy into the final day of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

The German once again made his move on the front nine, going out in 31, and an excellently-crafted birdie on 18 ensured he kept the chasing pack at bay.

Poulter and McIlroy are the nearest pursuers to Kaymer after they shot five-under-par 67s. Both posted just one bogey apiece with Poulter once again rock solid with his putter from inside eight feet.

Poulter was happy with his effort, as he said: "It was good. The wind was tough today, but I got off to a good start with three birdies and I played solid. To come off five weeks' rest and play as sharp as I have played, I am happy."

McIlroy will feel he left a couple of shots out on the course, but a stunning approach with a fairway wood on 18 set up a birdie. Poulter followed McIlroy in for a birdie at the last as the pair made sure they will be in the final group on Sunday.

"I'm looking forward to it, going into the last day in the last group shows you are doing something right," McIlroy said. "It is a good leaderboard with big names on it and it will be a good battle to see who comes out on top.

"I thought it was tricky out there today, gusty winds and the greens are drying up. I feel I will have to shoot something similar tomorrow if I am going to take the title."

McIlroy has been making bullish noises about challenging for top honours and feels the stage is set for him to make good on his statements. "It is a perfect opportunity for me to practice what I preach and win some more," he said.

Peter Hanson dropped his first shot of the tournament on the 49th hole and like buses, another one came immediately after as he slipped back to two off the lead.

Overnight leader Rick Kulack could not repeat his birdie blitz of day two as a one-over-par round of 73 saw him drift back into the pack. It was a similar story from Sergio Garcia . The Spaniard failed to find any sort of rhythm, but kept plugging away and will start the final day on nine-under.

Chris Wood produced another solid round, which included an excellent birdie putt on 14, to move into contention at 12-under but he let things slip slightly with a sloppy bogey five on the 17th.

Sergio Garcia struggled for form on day three but remained in the hunt © Getty Images

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Anthony Kim posted a four-under 68 but his hopes of making a real surge up the leaderboard were dented by bogeys on the fifth and the ninth, while Colombia's Camilo Villegas is level with Kim after a 69.

Defending champion Paul Casey posted a second successive 69, but at six-under par is surely too far back to mount a challenge. Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie's hopes of mounting a challenge slipped away in the temperate climate of Abu Dhabi as a round of 74, which contained four bogeys, saw him drop back to one-under.

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