The South African began day three trailing the halfway co-leaders by four shots but carded nine birdies in a sparkling 63 on Saturday to hit the front on 16-under.

The 28-year-old made a fast start at Al Hamra Golf Club on day three, picking up six shots on the front nine, with the highlight coming at the par-five eighth as he chipped in for a birdie at the second time of asking.

And he kept his foot on the gas on the trickier back nine, with birdies at the 12th, 17th and 18th taking Lombard to the top of the leaderboard.

Rasmus Højgaard was Lombard’s nearest challenger on 15-under after managing to save par at the last despite finding the water there.

The 21-year-old Dane, who made five birdies and one bogey in his third-round 68, is aiming to emulate his twin Nicolai, who won this event last year, and in doing so make the Højgaards the first brothers to win the same tournament on the DP World Tour.

England’s Daniel Gavins posted a spotless third-round 68 to sit in solo third on 14 under, one ahead of Frenchman Matthieu Pavon in fourth.

Defending champion Nicolai Højgaard was in a tie for fifth on 12 under alongside Alexander Björk.

Lombard flew out of the blocks, making birdies at the first, third and fourth to climb to 10-under.

He gave himself another good chance at the fifth but had to settle for a par there before bouncing back with a nine-foot birdie at the sixth.

After sending his tee-shot to around 20 feet at the par-three seventh, Lombard rolled in the birdie putt before making a mess of his chip shot from the rough near the eighth green.

He only managed to nudge his ball forward by a few yards but made no mistake with his second effort, chipping in for a bonus birdie.

Lombard’s next birdie arrived at the 12th, as he rolled in from long range, before a brilliant par save from 10 feet on the 14th kept his card clean.

After going close at the 16th, Lombard chipped in again on the 17th from over the back of the green to take the outright lead on 15-under.

And he sent his approach at the last to around seven feet to give himself a good eagle chance there but had to settle for a closing birdie.

Lombard was thrilled with his day’s work, saying: “It feels good. I did a lot of things really good. Just kept it steady, kept it solid and managed to hole a few putts and get some good momentum going.

“Nine-under par, you don’t shoot that every day but I felt solid straight out the blocks — I started birdie-par-birdie — and I just kept the mistakes off the card and that’s the key to a good round.”

Speaking about the prospect of entering the DP World Tour winner’s circle for the first time more than 10 years after making his debut, he said: “I’ve knocked on a lot of doors so it would be good to get over the line, but we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

The post Zander Lombard leads by one ahead of final round at Ras Al Khaimah appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 24-year-old South African fired a second-round 67 to go with an opening 64 to earn the 36-hole lead at the $7 million European Tour event on Friday.

Lombard’s career-best collect in four full seasons on the European Tour was the €168,335 he banked for a share of sixth place at last year’s DDF Irish Open at Ballyliffin. He’s also come close to a maiden European Tour victory twice before with runner-up finishes at the 2017 Rocco Forte Open in Sicily and the 2016 Joburg Open.

The challenge for Zombard is recent form – he’d missed eight successive cuts leading into the week in Co. Clare and is only on tour this season after successfully regaining his status at Q-School late last year – and perhaps more so from the pedigree around him on the leaderboard.

Sidelined with a back injury since the U.S. PGA Championship, Englishman Eddie Pepperell is just a shot back on -8 heading into moving day while former world No.1 Lee Westwood headlines a three-way tie for third at -7. Even defending champion Russell Knox is in the mix; a last hole eagle for a Friday 68 has the Scot at -5 in a share of 12th with the likes of Dubai-based Ryder Cupper Rafa Cabrera Bello and former MENA Tour member Robert MacIntyre.

Up-and-down from 245 yards…

What a finish from the defending champion.#DDFIrishOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/BZ32d5VGpZ

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 5, 2019

Lombard was accentuating the positives after his second round. 

“I missed a few cuts coming into this week and it’s been three months of hard work,” Lombard said. “I had to change a few things in my physique and how I swing the club so it’s nice to see the hard work coming off and what a better place to see it happen.

“It’s been really good golf, solid, and I’m just really enjoying being at the top.

“I’m so comfortable on links golf. It’s never just a normal shot, it’s always a little three quarter, a little punch, judging the wind right. I had a good amateur career on links golf and brought it over to my pro career as well.”

Given his time on the sidelines, Pepperell is understandably surprised to be in contention.

“I really had no idea where I was standing at so to have this performance through two rounds is certainly a nice surprise,” said the 28-year-old who captured the Qatar Masters and British Masters in a breakout 2018.

“I’m not hitting the ball perfectly but my short game has been feeling good. We’ll just see how the weekend goes.”

Extensive highlights of Pepperell’s second round 67 ?#DDFIrishOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/lsEXmnzin4

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 5, 2019

?? -9 Lombard
??????? -8 Pepperell
?? -7 Campillo
?? -7 Ancer
??????? -7 Westwood

Projected cut: PAR

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 5, 2019

Meanwhile, this week’s brutally honest European Tour player blog from fan favourite Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston is well worth a read.

On this week’s Player Blog, @BeefGolf opens up about his mental health struggles, adapting to becoming famous and how with the help of his fiancée and psychologist he is rediscovering his love for golf.https://t.co/J7POokEfXc

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 5, 2019

The post Lombard leaps into halfway lead at Dubai Duty Free Irish Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
So far so good for the (purely fictional) Dubai Duty Free Irish Open scriptwriters.

Home hero Padriag Harrington rekindled his love for links golf with an opening 63 at Lahinch Golf Club to will take a one stroke lead into the second round of the $7 million Rolex Series event today.

The seven-under-par loop of the Co. Clare layout was the 47-year-old Irishman’s lowest opening round in 18 years on the European Tour. You can check out the highlights from the three-time major champion here:

Extended highlights of Pádraig Harrington’s opening round 63 ?#DDFIrishOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/vEaEQUMpRM

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 4, 2019

Seems Harrington, who won the 2007 Irish Open and will lead Europe in next year’s Ryder Cup, treated himself afterwards and why not.

A 99 for a 63. pic.twitter.com/6xdkDTY9vf

— Padraig Harrington (@padraig_h) July 4, 2019

South African Zander Lombard looms largest in Harrington’s rearview mirror heading into day two while seven players including Ryder Cupper Thorbjorn Olesen and cult hero Eddie Pepperell shared third overnight after opening 65s.

But Harrington, 48 next month, clearly has no intention on sliding into the background as he eyes the summer’s links events, culminating in the 148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush beginning on July 18.

“I like playing links golf and I knew coming into this run that if I get my head in the game I have an advantage,” he said.

“Today  I did a lot of good things and holed a few putts here and there and got a few breaks – it all adds up to 63 which is nice. I didn’t expect 63 out of it.

“It would definitely be up there with one of the simplest, easiest, most pleasant days ever on the links.

“I know I don’t have to play as well as that for the next three days. It would be nice if I did but we’ll just go out there and try and do more of the same. If nothing good happens for the next three days, so be it. I know I’m on the right track.”

It seems the home fans will go to extraordinary lengths to follow their countryman.

The Irish fans will go anywhere to see Pádraig Harrington…@DubaiDutyFree #FullofSurprises pic.twitter.com/Fp0NXdKZY8

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 4, 2019

Meanwhile, Pepperell took on Kiwi Ryan Fox in a bit of pre-tournament fun. Enjoy.

Fox ? Pepperell

Possibly the greatest #14ClubChallenge yet… pic.twitter.com/vdi8s2AiTz

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 4, 2019

?? -7 Harrington
??????? -5 Pepperell
?? -5 Olesen
?? -5 Lorenzo-Vera
?? -5 Ormsby
?? -5 Park
??????? -5 Slattery#DDFIrishOpen #RolexSeries

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 4, 2019

The post Harrington wows home galleries with 63; takes one-stroke lead into day 2 at Dubai Dubai Free Irish Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.