Paul Casey and Martin Kaymer, the last two winners of the Abu Dhabi Championship, will go head-to-head in the final group of the final round tomorrow. But whereas Kaymer was six clear with a round to go last year, this time the 24-year-old German trails Casey by four.

The Ryder Cup star’s bid to end two full years without a victory anywhere — he has had no fewer than 15 top-10 finishes in between — saw him come within a stroke of the course record with a dazzling nine-under-par 63 in the third round.

So Kaymer, despite a 65, was further behind at the end of the day than he was at the start of it.

Casey already stands 19 under — he won the event with 17 under in 2007 — with Kaymer 15 under and then joint halfway leader Graeme Storm (69) one further back.

Open and US PGA champion Padraig Harrington had a 68, but now finds himself eight behind, while world number two Sergio Garcia is 11 adrift after a 67 and Colin Montgomerie, now seen as the likely next Ryder Cup captain, 12 back.

Casey followed up his Friday 65 with two birdies straightaway, then picked up further strokes on the seventh and long eighth to turn in 32.

He was in trouble off the tee at the par-five 10th, but a 40-footer was a real bonus and more birdies on the 12th, 13th and 17th put him in full command of the event before he almost pitched in for eagle at the last.

It was a day to forget for Australian Richard Green, who topped the leaderboard with Storm after 36 holes. He managed only a 76 to fall right out of contention.