Pieters, Fisher share Abu Dhabi C’ship lead

ABU DHABI: Thomas Pieters and Ross Fisher are joint leaders going into the final day of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, while a rejuvenated Rory McIlroy is snapping at their heels.

Pieters, of Belgium, shot a five-under par round of 67, while England’s Fisher shot a 65 to share pole position at 17-under par after 54 holes.

McIlroy, returning to professional golf after a layoff of more than three months, matched Fisher’s 65 to finish one shot behind the leading duo. England’s 23-year-old Matthew Fitzpatrick put together a stunning run of nine birdies in his first 12 holes in a nine-under par 63 round to jump to tied fourth place at 15-under, where he was later joined by the defending champion and compatriot Tommy Fleetwood (67). World No1 Dustin Johnson was five behind the leaders following a third-round 68.