Richie Ramsay takes over as top Scot in Abu Dhabi after 'shot off the planet' costs David Law

Richie Ramsay recovered from being two-over after six holes to sign for a three-under-par 69 in the third round of the Abu Dhabi PGA Championship

Law, who had started the day just four shots off the lead on six-under-par after a burst of five straight birdies in Friday's second circuit at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, was still in the mix in the $7 million Rolex Series event after turning in 35, one-under.

However, the 28-year-old followed a bogey 6 at the tenth with a double-bogey 6 at the next and had dropped two more shots at the 13th and 14th before he found his stride again.

Despite covering the final four holes in level-par, the costly run left Law, last year's ISPS Handa Vic Open winner, having to settle for a 76, dropping him nearly 50 spots into a share of 61st on two-under.

“I had played a pretty decent one the front nine and I missed a chance at nine to go eight-under for the tournament," he said afterwards. "But then I had a mud ball on 10 and my shot ends up in a waste area. I played a poor shot from there to make 6 and that was very disappointing.

“Then I hit one right off the planet at 11, which has not been like me all week as I have been driving the ball really well. It was a strange one, to be honest, and from there it was just scrappy, which is disappointing as I am playing good golf. But we learn from it and hopefully I can get out there and shoot something like four-under tomorrow.

“I’m very positive as I have been in a good routine this week with regards my game and really feel like I have turned a corner, so there is huge positives so far this week and there is no reason why I don’t think I can end on a high and take it into next week (in Dubai)."

Ramsay, who is playing in his first event of the 2020 season, sits joint-24th on seven-under, making four birdies in six holes around the turn then finishing birdie-birdie as he bounced back manfully from being two-over after six holes to card a three-under 69.

"I got off to a slow start, hitting a couple of loose shots and paying the price for that as you get punished around here," said the three-time European Tour winner. "But I started driving it better and having four birdies six holes around the turn certainly helped my score.

"It was also nice to finish birdie-birdie. I actually hit a wedge into the 17th, something I've never done before here, but it was playing downwind today, then birdied the last with a nice up and down from 86 yards.

"Three-under was good after being two-over early on. It was a good fightback and I am very pleased with the way I did that. Now I've got a lot to play for tomorrow. I think there could be a low one out there in the final round as I am putting well. I just need to get off to a slightly better start than I did today."

Earlier in the day, Scott Jamieson bagged six birdies in the opening 11 holes as he shot a 67 to jump nearly 25 spots into a tie for 37th on six-under.

"Five-under is never too shabby around here, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed with my score given how well I was going well through 11 holes," said the Florida-based Glaswegian.

"I hit a bad shot from the middle of the fairway at 13 and that kind of killed the momentum. Prior to that, I was giving myself lots of chances and also getting out of trouble when I had to."

Jamieson is also starting his new season in the Rolex Series event and added: "I had eight or nine weeks off and, though I'd worked on some new stuff in that, I was probably expecting to be slow for the first couple of rounds as it always feels a bit awkward you find yourself with a card in your hand again.

"You try and replicate the pressures when you are working at home, but nothing beats the real thing. I was really pleased how I finished the round yesterday just to be here. The way I played the ninth hole in particular yesterday showed me the swing is in a different place as there is no way I'd have been able to play the shot I hit there.

"Last year my biggest problem was not hitting the ball well enough tee to green. I putted really well all year and thank god I did because I probably wouldn't be standing here now otherwise."

On a day when England's Lee Westwood moved into the lead on 14-under on the back of a career-best 65 at this venue, David Drysdale shot 72, one better than Grant Forrest, to leave them on three-under and one-under respectively.