Tyrrell Hatton has taken cost within the weather-affected Abu Dhabi Championship, opening up a five-shot chief over the sector.
After an extended, arduous Friday, although, Australia’s Jason Scrivener is among the many Englishman’s nearest challengers, mendacity joint second alongside three different gamers, together with Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy carded a career-best 64 within the opening spherical and birdied two of his first three holes on Friday, however performed his subsequent 11 in three over par earlier than play was suspended as a consequence of darkness, a legacy of Thursday’s prolonged fog delay.
Taking part in within the group behind, Hatton took full benefit along with his third eagle of the week on the par-five second and 4 birdies in a row from the seventh, the world No.9 reaching the 14th gap earlier than play was halted.
At 12-under, Hatton is 5 forward of Scrivener, Jazz Janewattananond and Romain Langasque, with Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Wallace and Marc Warren amongst a big group on six-under.
Scrivener, who hasn’t performed since a event in Cyprus in November, confirmed no indicators of ring rust after having to play 28 holes on Friday.
The 31-year-old Perth participant had managed solely eight holes on a fog-shortened Thursday so had an early begin earlier than finishing his opening spherical with 4 birdies to complete with a five-under 67.
He then posted a 70 in his second spherical to take the mantle as main Australian from Lucas Herbert, who was a shot behind at six-under after 10 holes of his second spherical when dangerous gentle pressured an early suspension of play.
“I am clearly in an incredible place in the meanwhile,” stated Hatton, who received the Arnold Palmer Invitational and BMW PGA Championship final yr.
“It was definitely powerful on the market so I am actually comfortable to be five-under for the spherical.”
Defending champion Lee Westwood bogeyed the thirteenth and 14th earlier than play was suspended to lie 9 pictures off the lead on three-under, with enjoying accomplice and world No.3 Justin Thomas on the projected reduce mark of one-under.