Tommy Fleetwood said "these are the times of our lives" after continuing his fine recent form with a third-round 67 to sit one shot off the lead ahead of the final round of the 2025 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
The Englishman is enjoying a spectacular year, having ended his long wait for a first PGA TOUR title at the Tour Championship to capture the FedExCup in August, played a key role in Europe's historic away Ryder Cup victory at Bethpage Black in September and won the DP World India Championship last month.
And he has a chance to add another big victory to that collection on Sunday as he bids to become a three-time winner of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Fleetwood, who won this event in 2017 and 2018, made an eagle and three birdies in his flawless 67 on Saturday to finish the day just one stroke adrift of leader Aaron Rai, who had been three ahead with two holes to play.
He said: "I've been saying the whole time, I'm playing very good golf at the moment, and I've found myself in this position a lot throughout the summer, but never take it for granted.
"This is what we practise for. These are the times of our lives, and I'm enjoying it very much.
"Just grateful for another opportunity to go out there and control what I can control. You know, hopefully I play well. If I don't, dust myself off and go again.
"But very excited about the prospects. That last hole there, I looked at the leaderboard and saw Nacho had made birdie, and was like, 'I need to make birdie to get into the last group, which would be nice'.
"Great to get in the last group which is where we all want to be and I'm one of the lucky ones to do it tomorrow. Hopefully I just continue to do great things and the right things and see where we finish at the end of the day."
Also on 19 under par is Dane Nicolai Højgaard, who made eight birdies - including four in a row from the sixth to close the front nine - and one bogey.
He said: "It almost felt like it was a perfect round of golf. I played really nice. I was in control of the golf ball, and I played the first nine really, really good, and that set me up for a good back nine.
"Same yesterday. Probably got a little defensive on the back nine with my putting and felt like I left a couple. But obviously very, very happy with where I'm at."
