World number one golfer Rory McIlroy saw a series of putts stay up and fired only two birdies in a 71 that left him eight shots adrift of leader Martin Kaymer on the fifth at the Abu Dhabi Championship.
Germany's Kaymer is on the verge of winning a fourth Abu Dhabi Championship title, having opened a six-shot lead after three rounds as he fired seven birdies in his first 13 holes during a bogey-free round of 65 to reach 20 under.
McIlroy, who was only two behind overnight, saw a series of putts stay up and only two birdies in a 71 left him tied for fifth on 12 under. He is yet to add the Abu Dhabi tournament to his comprehensive list of titles, the BBC reported.
The Northern Irishman has been runner-up three times in Abu Dhabi the last four years, but his chances of victory were hampered by taking 34 putts on day three.
McIlroy, who had a hole-in-one in round two, said that he hit the ball as well as he did a day before, gave himself so many chances and didn't convert any really, adding that it was very wasteful and looking like he was playing for second the next day.
Kaymer has now gone 42 holes without dropping a shot and on the rare occasion when he did find trouble he produced a superb escape on the 10th hole.
The US Open champion, who eclipsed Paul Casey's record total for the third round by one shot, said that the main goal was to still lead the golf tournament, adding that it was a little bit of an up and down round so therefore a 65 is a great score.
Belgium's Thomas Pieters is second after a two-under-par 70, the report added.
