Playing on a sponsor's exemption, Michael Thorbjornsen, currently second in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com rankings, finds himself tied for the lead with Richard Bland and Thomas Pieters at 10-under par after the Stanford junior carded an 8-under 64 on Saturday at the Emirates Golf Club.
Two shots back are current world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed and Ryder Cup veteran Ian Poulter.
“It feels good, I didn’t have the best round yesterday and then day before, felt like I missed a lot of putts out there,” Thorbjornsen told WorldWideGolf.
“Thought I had a pretty good game plan but just stuck to it today. I actually made some putts.
“I enjoy playing professional golf a lot and I’m still an amateur but just the golf courses that we play, the crowd out there, it’s what I’m dreaming of ever since I was five or six years old. It just feels good to be out there."
This is not the first time Thorbjornsen has contended in a professional event. In June, he finished fourth at the Travelers Championship, four shots behind winner Xander Schauffele.
After opening with a superb 65 on Thursday, Aberg slipped back into a tie for 22nd following a second-round 73 that left him at 6-under.
The weather-delayed Rolex Series event will resume with third-round action on Sunday and will culminate with a Monday finish.