Francesco Molinari of the United Arab Emirates remains at the top of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and can hope for success in the first tournament of the Rolex Series of the DP World Tour 2023. The Turin player, with a total of 203 (67 67 69, – 13) hits, after «moving day» he shares the top of the ranking no longer with Guido Migliozzi from Vicenza, now 7/o with 205 (65 69 71, -11), but with the Irishman Shane Lowry ( 67 70 66) and Australian Min Woo Lee (68 69 66).
While he is 16th with 207 (67 72 68, -9), Edoardo Molinari, brother of Francesco and vice-captain of the European team in the Ryder Cup in Rome 2023.
Francesco Molinari, results
On the Yas Links course (par 72), Chicco Molinari could not repeat the performances offered in the first and second rounds, but with a round of 69 (-3) supported by four birdies (one of them decisive on hole 18, the last of the day) and spotted by a bogey, stood high.
The 40-year-old from Turin has not won an individual competition since March 2019 when he managed to establish himself on the PGA Tour at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. “It wasn’t a perfect round, I hit a couple of shots on the front nine, especially on the greens.
While in the second part of the game, when the wind picked up, the birdie chances decreased. I still fought and I am satisfied with this. It is certainly positive to reach the last round with some chance of winning the tournament and now I will try to play my cards.
After the good experience in the Hero Cup it would be great to celebrate such an important success in the DP World Tour again”, are Molinari’s feelings. The leading trio will have to watch out for Scotsman Grant Forrest, Swede Sebastian Soderberg and Frenchman Víctor Pérez, all 4/1 with 204 (-12).
So, here is Migliozzi. The 25-year-old Venetian, who fluctuates today with a 71 (-1), scored four birdies with three bogeys but continued in the fight for the title. In Abu Dhabi everything is ready for the grand finale. At stake is a total jackpot of 9 million dollars (with the first coin of 1,530,000) and important points for qualifying for the Ryder Cup in Rome, scheduled from September 29 to October 1. And with a Molinari and a Migliozzi in this form, Italy is allowed to dream.
