Closing double-bogey derails Rory McIlroy's charge in Abu Dhabi

Rory McIlroy’s quest to declare his 18th DP World Tour triumph was abruptly stalled connected Saturday erstwhile a precocious mis-step derailed his information for the 2nd consecutive day.

McIlroy, playing successful the sixth-to-last group, was charging up the leaderboard astatine the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship for astir of Round 3. After opening pinch a bogey connected the par-4 1st spread astatine Yas Links, McIlroy carded six birdies complete his adjacent 14 holes, arriving astatine the par-5 18th astatine 5 nether connected the time and 15 nether par overall.

But then: disaster. McIlroy’s tee changeable recovered the h2o near of the fairway. After dropping, his 3rd changeable near him pinch a 219-yard attack to the hole. His adjacent changeable went successful the beforehand greenside bunker. McIlroy deed his 5th changeable to 10 feet, but missed that bogey putt to pat successful for a deflating double.

That dropped McIlroy to T13 astatine 13 nether par — 5 shots down Englishman Paul Waring’s lead astatine 18 under.

To adhd moreover further reproach to injury, it was the 2nd clip successful arsenic galore rounds that a botched spread precocious successful the information had costs McIlroy.

During Friday’s 2nd round, McIlroy was cruising astatine 7 nether done 16 holes earlier triple-bogeying the 211-yard par-3 17th. That spread didn’t moreover see a punishment shot. Instead, McIlroy went from greenside bunker to greenside bunker pinch his first 2 shots, was still short of the greenish pinch his 3rd shot, past grounded to get that 1 up and down. McIlroy bounced backmost pinch a birdie connected 18 connected Friday, but unluckily that wasn’t the lawsuit successful Round 3.

“Playing the past 2 holes successful 2 complete for 2 days successful a statement is not ideal,” McIlroy said aft his information connected Saturday, “Cost myself evidently a fewer shots there.

“The leaders weren’t getting away, which was bully and I was making a small spot of a charge,” he continued. “Just 1 mistake, that thrust connected 18, and pinch it playing truthful overmuch into the wind.”

Despite the setback, McIlroy was holding retired dream that a Sunday complaint could still get the occupation done.

“Depending connected what the leaders do, I tin still spell into tomorrow emotion for illustration I person half a chance,” he said.

Low scores tin decidedly beryllium recovered astatine Yas Links. Tournament leader Waring fired an 11-under 61 connected Friday, and some Tommy Fleetwood and Thomas Detry person posted rounds of 62 this week.

You tin tune successful to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship’s final-round action connected Golf Channel starting astatine 1:30 a.m. ET connected Sunday.