Fleetwood on fire as he eyes desert treble

TOMMY FLEETWOOD produced the “perfect” start at Yas Links yesterday - to leave him in pole position for another weekend to remember in his golden year.

- 

English pair Fleetwood and Aaron Rai share a two-shot halfway lead at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

European Ryder Cup winner Fleetwood, who has won this tournament twice before and had been co-leader overnight, built on a fast start of three birdies to make a six-under par 66, with just a solitary bogey at the par-four 15th.

The Southport star is in contention for his third title this year after winning the PGA Tour Championship and triumphing in India last month.

Rai (circle) signed for an eight-under 64 having landed a superb albatross on the par-five second and finishing with back-to-back birdies, leaving him alongside Fleetwood at 14-under heading into the weekend.