Casey out in front

Paul Casey showed his undoubted class to take a two-stroke lead into the back nine of his third round at the Abu Dhabi Championship on Saturday.

One behind fellow Englishman Graeme Storm and Australian left-hander Richard Green at halfway, Casey went to the turn in 32 to reach 14 under par.

The 31-year-old, who has had 15 top-10 finishes since his last victory came in the same event two years ago, birdied the first, second, seventh and eighth as he followed up a sparkling second-round 65.

Storm, playing his first tournament for more than two months, led on his own when he birdied the first and fifth, but a poor tee shot to the short seventh found the rough and failing to salvage a par dropped him alongside Londoner Anthony Wall at 12 under.

Green also opened with a birdie, but then came bogeys on the fifth and ninth and instead it was defending champion Martin Kaymer, Swede Per Hanson and South African Louis Oosthuizen in joint fourth.

Padraig Harrington was only one further back after an outward 33 and youngsters Rory McIlroy and Oliver Fisher were on the same mark, while Sergio Garcia threatened to get back into contention when he covered his first 13 holes in six under, but a bogey followed and left the world number two eight under.

Colin Montgomerie, now thought to be ready to become Ryder Cup captain for the 2010 match in Wales, stood six under with four to play.