Birdie blitz sees Rose take command in Abu Dhabi golf

Justin Rose had consolidated his lead in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship on Saturday as the leaders reached the turn in the third round. The 32-year-old Englishman, the current world No.5, was leading by one overnight at eight-under, but bogeyed the first. He then fell into a four-way tie after a few holes alongside Jamie Donaldson of Wales, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano of Spain and Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark. But in perfect playing conditions, Rose accelerated clear with five birdies in six holes from the fourth to move three strokes clear of the field at 12 under. Donaldson was in second place, despite seeing his ball stuck up a palm tree at the eighth, with Fernandez-Castano and Olesen a further stroke back. Tournament favourites Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods were both absent having failed to make the cut on Friday in what was for both their first outing of the season. From : AFP