Martin Kaymer to ‘enjoy the challenge’ of final day chase at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

A level par third round keeps Martin Kaymer firmly in contention heading into Sunday's final round as he chases a fourth Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship title. Nezar Balout / AFP

Three-time champion Martin Kaymer sits joint-second going into the final day at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. He spoke to the media immediately after his third round.

A chequered day’s play

Holding the overnight lead, Kaymer struggled a little to get going on Saturday, trading three birdies with three bogeys for a level-par 72. Still, going into Sunday, he is part of a five-man group in second on 12-under par, including world No 3 and reigning US Open champion Dustin Johnson. They trail Englishman Tyrrell Hatton by one. Meanwhile, reigning British Open champion Henrik Stenson is only two further back.

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■ Groups and tee times: Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship final round

■ Martin Kaymer: Already reaping the benefits of forgoing ski holiday

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On his third day’s work

“Overall, I would call it an OK day,” Kaymer said. “It’s still a very good position to be in for the final round. Obviously I feed off the first two rounds a little bit, but today, I found it very difficult to play. I know some of the guys shot very good scores, but I found it a bit more difficult to make birdies today, especially getting the fairways and then creating birdie chances. Level par is not really bad.”

On relishing a Sunday shootout

“I just really enjoy the challenge tomorrow,” he said. “I’m not having a lot of pressure of winning the tournament. Always when you lead a golf tournament by three or four shots, you kind of expect yourself to win, and I don’t really have that pressure tomorrow. I know I’ve done very well here in the past, so I can play very free and very aggressive tomorrow.”

On taking on the big guns

“I don’t really know Hatton that well,” Kaymer said. “I know he has won last year at the Dunhill, which is obviously a big event. And then having Stenson, Dustin up there ... it’s great for the tournament. It’s going to be nice if you win that tournament, knowing that you beat one of the best players in the world. That always gives you a little bit more satisfaction. So it will be an exciting day no matter what.”

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