Lowry leads, Harrington soars as Irish shine in Abu Dhabi

Shane Lowry ties the lead while Pádraig Harrington fired into contention on a stunning day for the Irish challenge at the Abu Dhabi Championship in Yas Island.

Lowry, who kickstarted a memorable year with victory in this event in 2019, once again shares the lead heading into Sunday, sitting on 13-under alongside Australia's Min Woo Lee and Francesco Molinari.

Beginning the day on seven-under, Lowry's run was turbo-charged when he holed out for an eagle from 155 yards at the par-4 6th. Having already birdied the 2nd, he added a couple more on 7 and 9 to reach the turn in 31.

What a shot @ShaneLowryGolf! A hole-out eagle at the second hardest hole of the day. #ADGolfChamps | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/oW21iDU5HN

Having jumped to the top of the leaderboard, Lowry held steady on the back nine, though the birdies dried up, the 2019 Open champion missing a sitter on the 14th. However, he blew a near 'gimme' opportunity, Lowry proceeded to roll in a long putt for birdie at 15.

His only dropped stroke would arrive after finding the bunker at the back of the green at the par-3 17th. Fuming after his tee shot after the par-5 18th, Lowry narrowly avoided a bunker but was forced to lay up from the adjacent rough. From 186 yards, Lowry jammed a superb iron shot into 6ft, sinking the putt to wind up on 13-under after a 66.

The 51-year old Harrington, who last won on the Tour at the 2016 Portugal Masters, caught fire on the back nine, rattling in six birdies on the trot between 11 and 16 to briefly jump into a tie for the lead.

Posting rounds of 68 and 73 over the opening two days, Harrington began in steady fashion, reaching the par-5 2nd hole in two blows, two-putting for birdie. He then chipped in for birdie on the 6th, having found the