Paul Waring running out of fuel, a pack on his heels including Frenchman Ugo Coussaud

Solid leader after 36 holes, Paul Waring is the only one among the top 29 (with the American Johannes Veerman) to have played above par this Saturday in Abu Dhabi. As a result, the cards are redistributed before a final round which promises to be exciting. 7th at -14, four lengths behind the Englishman, Ugo Coussaud (photo) is therefore affected by the victory!

L.V.

Stratospheric Friday with his 61 (-11) record without conceding the slightest bogey, Paul Waring came back to earth this Saturday in the Emirates. And rather violently. The 39-year-old Englishman had to settle for a card of 73 (+1), twelve moves more than the day before. Abandoned by his putter, unless it is the contrary, he nevertheless still remains leader of this Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship 2024 with a score of -18 (198).

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But this clearly failed Moving Day nevertheless allows his main adversaries, who twenty-four hours ago were still between five and seven shots behind, to come back on his heels. Author of a solid 69 (four birdies, one bogey), the Dane Niklas Nørgaard is for example only second at -17 (199).

He also ran out of fuel on the greens, Tommy Fleetwood71 (-1) today, occupies third place at -15 (201) in the company of the Irish Shane Lowryback in business with his 66 (-6) of the day, from the Dane (another one!) Thorbjørn Olesen and Swedish Sebastian Söderberg.

The wind, finally back…

In a third lap where the wind finally woke up at the start of the afternoon on the Yas Linkseven those ranked at -14 (7th) can also believe it. Among them, we find the Belgian Thomas Detryexceptional with his 62 (-10) including six successful birdies on his first six holes played, the Scot Robert MacIntyrethe English Tyrrell Hattonthe Italian Francesco Laportathe Dane (definitely) Nicolai Højgaardon a mission to try to enter the top 52 of the Race and thus defend his title next week in Dubai, and… the French Ugo Coussaud.

He even found himself in third place on the leaderboard for a moment after a mastered first eight holes concluded with three birdies from 2 to 7. But a double bogey at 9 (three putts) followed by a bogey at 10, unfortunately , stopped this magnificent momentum dead in its tracks. Two birdies at 11 and 13 have, of course, somewhat attenuated this feeling of waste but with a 70 (-2) at the exit, Angoumoisin retains all its chances before the final package.

We would even be tempted to say that Rory McIlroy69 this Saturday with a double to finish on 18, will also have his say this Sunday. 13th at -13, the Northern Irishman, in ambush five lengths from Paul Waring, indeed has the ability to play very low when it comes to brandishing a trophy at the exit. To do this, we will just have to leave the old demons in the locker room, those who, still too often this season in any case, cause him to pull apart a game when it seems completely under control.

Adrien Saddier, eighteen holes to change everything

As for Adrien Saddier18th at -12 and projected 68th in the Race (+7 places), he must have one last round of fire to hope to enter the top 52 “qualifier” for the final. “ I'm pretty excited because I'm still in it and I know I have a big day (in front of him), he whispers into the microphone of our colleagues from Golf+. Tomorrow is my son's birthday, so I want to have a good party for him so he can join me in Dubai on Tuesday… »

Eighteen holes from the end of this first of the two playoff tournaments of the DP World Tour 2023-24there are six Tricolores to validate for the moment their ticket for the DP World Tour Championship au Jumeirah Golf Estates. 41st to -8, Romain Langasque is projected 18th (-3), ahead Julien Guerrier (41st to -8, projected 22nd), Frédéric Lacroix (50th to -7, projected 27th), Antoine Rozner (28th to -11, projected 30th), Ugo Coussaud (7th to -14, projected 34th) and David Ravetto (60th to -5, projected 48th).

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Photo : Andrew Redington / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / Getty Images via AFP