Calum Hill of Scotland emerged as the leader in the Bahrain Championship after a steady comeback performance on Saturday, finishing with an even-par 72. This score allowed him to maintain a two-shot advantage over his competitors, including notable players Patrick Reed and Sergio Garcia, who have positioned themselves as serious contenders.
Reed, fresh off a triumphant week where he clinched victory at the Dubai Desert Classic, turned heads with an impressive five birdies and an eagle resulting in a score of 66. After starting the day ten shots behind, he significantly closed the gap and now sits just four strokes off Hill’s lead. Meanwhile, Garcia stayed in the hunt with a solid round of 68, also trailing Hill by four shots.
Hill, a former Texas Tech player, stands at 16-under 200, leading Freddy Schott of Germany, who carded a 70 and is in second place. Both Reed, Garcia, and Scotland’s Grant Forrest share a score of 204, making the final round of the tournament highly competitive.
Reflecting on his position, Reed remarked on the shift in dynamics, stating, “Are you going to be the hunted or the hunter? Looks like I’m going to be the hunter tomorrow.” As Reed aims to build on his momentum, he plans to follow a full European Tour schedule, with his next stop being the Qatar Masters. His current goal is to secure a spot among the top 10 players in the Race to Dubai, which would allow him to return to the PGA Tour with limited status as a past champion in September.
This thrilling turn of events sets the stage for an exciting final round, with Hill aiming to fend off the pursuing competitors eager to seize the championship title.