Harrington lead slips in Abu Dhabi

Padraig Harrington has dropped to third in the leaderboard on a tense final day at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship today.

Paul Casey enjoyed a delightful run on his outward nine to climb to the top.

The Englishman yesterday promised to push overnight leader Harrington all the way and he kept his word, carding five birdies and making par on the rest to reach the halfway stage on 16 under.

He then added another birdie on the 10th to displace Harrington at the top.

On a day when many golfers were enjoying some fine form, European Tour Order of Merit winner Harrington made a steady start before carding his first birdie on the par-four sixth.

He added another on the eighth and then a superb lay-up onto the green on the ninth enabled him to make a simple putt for his third birdie.

Miguel Angel Jimenez shot two successive birdies from the tee-off which saw him climb to the top of the leaderboard before he dropped a shot on the fourth.

However, two further birdies on the seventh and eighth meant he was two shots off the top at the halfway stage.

Peter Hanson was keeping the pressure on as he produced a solid display after his first nine holes, carding three birdies and just one bogey.

Defending champion Chris DiMarco will have his work cut out on the back nine if he is to retain his title, despite playing some good golf on the front nine.

The American made the ideal start by carding successive birdies from the first before adding another on the sixth. However a bogey on the ninth meant he was 12 under, five shots behind Casey.