Aaron Rai enters the final round of the 2025 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship with a narrow one-shot lead, aiming for his first DP World Tour title since 2020. The English golfer, who shared the halfway lead with Tommy Fleetwood, excelled on Saturday, finishing with an impressive six-under 66 to reach 20-under-par.
Rai’s strong performance featured a brilliant front nine, where he scored five birdies for a total of 31. He continued his momentum with additional birdies on the 11th and 14th holes, although a single bogey on the 17th reduced his cushion to one shot. His last Tour victory took place in Scotland, and a win this weekend would bolster his collection of Rolex Series titles.
Close on Rai’s heels are Fleetwood and Nicolai Højgaard, both at 19-under. Fleetwood delivered a solid round of 67, including an eagle and three birdies. Højgaard impressed with a round of 65, marked by eight birdies and just one bogey. Meanwhile, Spain’s Nacho Elvira trails at 18-under, having finished with two consecutive birdies, and Andy Sullivan along with Daniel Hillier are tied for fifth at 17-under.
Reflecting on his game, Rai praised his overall performance, highlighting his solid driving and iron play that set up numerous chances. “I felt like I rolled it really well on the greens,” he commented. He noted the rising winds on the back nine, which made play more challenging, and emphasized the importance of maintaining a careful approach. “If you get too aggressive, it can bite you fast,” he warned, as minor mistakes can quickly alter the leaderboard.
Rai described winning the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as “special,” recognizing it as one of the premier events on the DP World Tour. He acknowledged the competitive field and reiterated his commitment to performing his best to secure the title.
The course conditions have been excellent, evident from the fact that only two players recorded scores over par in round three. As the final day approaches, the tee times are set with play starting in three-balls from 7:02 a.m. The leaders, Rai, Fleetwood, and Højgaard, will tee off last at 11:25 a.m.
Round Three Leaders (Par 72, 7,425 yards)
- Aaron Rai (ENG) 66 – 64 – 66 = 196 (-20)
- Nicolai Højgaard (DEN) 65 – 67 – 65 = 197 (-19)
- Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 64 – 66 – 67 = 197 (-19)