McIlroy Holds Joint Top Spot While Closes In On Dubai Championship
The Northern Irish golfer recorded five under-par scores in his Saturday performance
Season Finale Third-Round Standings
-13 R McIlroy (Northern Ireland), R Neergaard-Petersen (Denmark); -12 A Ayora (Spain), L Canter (Eng), M Fitzpatrick (England), T Fleetwood (Eng), T Hatton (England), R Hojgaard (Denmark)
Selected others: -11 L Aberg (Sweden), N Hojgaard (Den), J Rose (England); -10 S Lowry (Ire), R MacIntyre (Sco); -8 J Parry (England); -4 M Penge (England)
The world-class golfer secured three birdies over the closing stretch to move into the joint lead of the DP World Tour Championship edging closer to his seventh year-end Race to Dubai title.
The Northern Irishman carded a four-under-par 68 in the United Arab Emirates, during a round including five birdies with one bogey to move to 13-under-par, joining Danish golfer Neergaard-Petersen.
English golfers Canter (68), Matt Fitzpatrick (66), Fleetwood (68) along with Tyrrell Hatton (67) are on 12-under-par, together with Spanish player Angel Ayora (67) and Denmark's Hojgaard (65).
"All in all, a challenging round," commented McIlroy. "The conditions were tricky enough yet pleased with shooting my score."
McIlroy has a substantial lead in the annual standings as he goes for his fourth consecutive Race to Dubai title.
Tyrrell Hatton and compatriot Marco Penge are the sole players capable of preventing McIlroy from winning the annual championship.
The English golfer needs to win the tournament and have McIlroy finish worse than tied for eighth to win it.
"I'm in a better position than him [Hatton]," stated McIlroy. "My focus is on my game. If I go out and perform at the level I can achieve, particularly on this layout, I'm confident that I'll be OK.
"That would represent a fantastic manner to conclude the year."
Marco Penge shot an improved 68 in round three after scores of 74 and 70, but looks unlikely to challenge at four-under-par.
