OVERNIGHT LEADER JUSTIN ROSE was reeled in by Jamie Donaldson and David Howell on the final day of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship on Sunday as the leaders reached the turn.
Starting with a two stroke lead, Rose eased into his round with a birdie at the second, but back-to-back birdies from playing partner Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark at four and five and a bogey from the Englishman at the fifth saw the lead tied.
Welshman Donaldson, who started the day tied for second with Olesen, stayed in touch with a birdie at the opening hole, while former Ryder Cup star Howell of England moved firmly into contention with four birdies on the front nine.
A win in what was his first tournament of the year would move Rose back up to world No.4 and his chances of doing that took a distinct turn for the better at the sixth.
Olesen found thick rough off the tee, slapped his second into a bush, took a penalty drop and slouched off with a double bogey six.
But ahead of them Donaldson sunk a 25-footer for birdie at the ninth and when Rose could only par seven, eight and nine, there was a three-way tie for the lead between them and Howell.
