McIlroy Shares Tied Lead As He Closes In On Dubai Championship
Rory McIlroy recorded five birdies in his third round
DP World Tour Championship Saturday Standings
-13 R McIlroy (NI), R Neergaard-Petersen (Denmark); -12 A Ayora (Spain), L Canter (England), M Fitzpatrick (Eng), T Fleetwood (Eng), T Hatton (England), R Hojgaard (Denmark)
Selected others: -11 L Aberg (Swe), N Hojgaard (Denmark), J Rose (Eng); -10 S Lowry (Ire), R MacIntyre (Scotland); -8 J Parry (Eng); -4 M Penge (England)
Rory McIlroy secured three under-par scores over the closing stretch to move into a share of the lead of the DP World Tour Championship edging closer to a seventh year-end Race to Dubai crown.
The Northern Irishman shot a four-under-par 68 in Dubai, in a performance including five birdies and a bogey to move to 13-under-par, along with Danish golfer Neergaard-Petersen.
English golfers Canter (68), Fitzpatrick (66), Fleetwood (68) along with Tyrrell Hatton (67) sit at 12-under-par, together with Spanish player Ayora (67) and Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard (65).
"All in all, a challenging round," said the golfer. "The conditions proved difficult but happy to shoot the score that I did."
McIlroy has a 767-point lead in the annual standings as he goes for his fourth consecutive Race to Dubai crown.
Hatton and compatriot Marco Penge are the only two capable of preventing the Northern Irishman from winning the annual championship.
Hatton must win the tournament and have his rival finish worse than the top eight to secure the title.
"My position is stronger compared to him [Hatton]," added the tournament leader. "My focus is on my game. If I go out and play the golf that I know I can achieve, particularly on this layout, I know that I'll succeed.
"That would represent a fantastic manner to conclude the year."
Penge shot a better 68 in round three after scores of 74 and 70, yet appears unlikely to challenge at four-under-par.
