It’s John Rahm by a shot with a round to play on his debut in the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship in the UAE capital.

Rahm posted a ‘moving day’ score of 66 for to lead by a shot at 18-under on the host Yas Links course.

Two players – England’s Tyrrell Hatton and Italian Francesco Laporta – each posted a score of 67 to be sharing second place at 17-under and with Rory McIlroy signing for a 67 to be just a further shot back of the duo at 16-under.

Surprisingly, the leading four players did not birdie the par 5 18th hole with Rahm missing an 11-footer for birdie, Hatton failing to hole out for birdie while Laporta found himself some 50-yards shy and in a fairway bunker following a poor drive.

Also McIlroy failed to birdie the last.

The only player among the leading five to birdie the final green was Aussie Adam Scott who has crept his way into fifth place in holing a 13-footer for birdie at the 54th hole, and naturally delighted to have the chance, a strong chance, of capturing a first main tour title in close to seven years.

“I’ve hit it pretty good really. I’ve hit a lot of greens. Obviously, haven’t had a three putt but I haven’t made everything,” said Scott.

“So there haven’t been that many birdies considering how many looks I’ve had. “I’m playing pretty solid. I need a hot day with the putter tomorrow.

“It would also be a miracle to win tomorrow though there is some pretty serious names in front of me though you never know as you can get yourself on a hot round, as we saw a couple of hot rounds the first two days, and it would be great doing that tomorrow”.

Scott and Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson, and sharing 14th place on 11-under, are the only two players in the field not to have dropped a shot over the three days.