Lowry and McIlroy playing catch-up as hot scoring continues in Abu Dhabi

Aaron Rai of England tees off on the 16th hole on day three of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship 2025 at Yas Links Golf Course on November 08, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy saw their hopes fade in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on another day of red-hot scoring at Yas Links.

The Offaly man shot a four-under 68 but ended the day five shots behind England's Aaron Rai, who carded a 66 to lead by a shot from Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard (65) and England's Tommy Fleetwood (67) on 20 under par.

Lowry is tied for eighth and only a shot better than McIlroy, who feels he's out of contention despite moving up from 20th to joint 12th after a 66.

"Sometimes it is hard to stay patient when you're seeing all the guys behind you, five-under through nine, and you're trying to play catch-up," said McIlroy, who birdied six of his first 11 holes but could make no further ground coming home.

"It seems like no matter how well you play, they seem to keep making birdies.

"That's the name of the game on this golf course. It sort of has been for the last few years.

"You're going to have to shoot low scores to have a chance. I played okay, but not quite good enough to get myself right into contention this week."

McIlroy's slim hopes of closing the gap on the leaders ended when he bogeyed the 14th, and while he birdied the last, his goal now is to finish as well as he can as he looks to extend his Race to Dubai lead over Marco Penge, who is 26th on 11-under.

"It's hard," added McIlroy. "You can keep your foot on the pedal, but then if it's not quite happening, it's hard to stay patient.

"That sort of got me today by going for the green on 14 and putting it in a bad spot and making bogey."

Lowry was four under through 11 holes, but he bogeyed the 17th for the second day running and looked frustrated by his failure to go lower, even after making a 15-footer for a closing birdie four.

Rai made seven birdies to get to 21 under with four holes to go, but while he finished bogey-par to allow Fleetwood to close the gap, he was pleased with his day's work.

"Like any course, you have to strike that balance between playing well and creating chances but not being too cavalier about it at the same time," Rai said of the challenge.

"This is one of the biggest events we have on the DP World Tour. To win this week, to have a chance going into the weekend, is great."

World number five Fleetwood looks the big danger after he birdied two of his last three holes for a bogey-free 67 that gave him a spot in the final group alongside Rai and Hojgaard, who shot 65.

Spain’s Nacho Elvira lies just two shots off the pace after a 65 with Kiwi Daniel Hillier and England’s Andy Sullivan only three behind as Tom McKibbin shot a second successive 69 to share 64th on three under.