McIlroy Shares Joint Lead While Closes In On Dubai Title
The Northern Irish golfer secured five birdies in his Saturday performance
DP World Tour Championship Third-Round Leaderboard
-13 R McIlroy (Northern Ireland), R Neergaard-Petersen (Den); -12 A Ayora (Spain), L Canter (Eng), M Fitzpatrick (Eng), T Fleetwood (England), T Hatton (Eng), R Hojgaard (Den)
Notable scores: -11 L Aberg (Swe), N Hojgaard (Den), J Rose (England); -10 S Lowry (Ireland), R MacIntyre (Scotland); -8 J Parry (England); -4 M Penge (Eng)
Rory McIlroy secured three under-par scores in the final five holes to claim the joint lead of the DP World Tour Championship and close in on his seventh season-ending Race to Dubai title.
McIlroy recorded a four-under-par 68 in the United Arab Emirates, in a performance including five birdies and a bogey to move to 13-under-par, joining Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
England's Laurie Canter (68), Fitzpatrick (66), Fleetwood (68) and Tyrrell Hatton (67) sit at 12-under-par, together with Spanish player Angel Ayora (67) and Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard (65).
"Overall, a bit of a battling day," commented McIlroy. "Weather conditions proved difficult yet pleased with shooting the score that I did."
The 36-year-old has a 767-point lead at the top of the season-long rankings as he pursues his fourth straight Race to Dubai title.
Tyrrell Hatton along with compatriot Penge are the sole players who can stop the Northern Irishman from winning the annual championship.
The English golfer must win the tournament while requiring his rival finish worse than tied for eighth to win it.
"My position is stronger than him [Hatton]," stated the tournament leader. "My focus is on my game. If I go out and perform at the level I can achieve, especially around this layout, I'm confident that I'll succeed.
"It would be a fantastic manner to end the season."
Marco Penge shot a better 68 on Saturday following rounds of 74 and 70, yet appears out of contention at four-under-par.
