Nov 17,2024
Rory McIlroy could leave Dubai with a coveted double title as he takes a share of the lead into Sunday's final round at the DP World Tour Championship.
The world number three carded a four-under 68 to move up to 12 under alongside Denmark's Rasmus Hoejgaard, who rode six birdies on the front nine to a 66, and halfway-point leader Antoine Rozner of France (69).
As well as being in contention to win the tournament, McIlroy also remains well on course towards clinching a third successive Race to Dubai victory.
He can only be unseated should his closest pursuer Thriston Lawrence win this tournament with McIlroy himself failing to place inside the top 11. But Lawrence is eight shots back in a tie for 17th.
"It's a great opportunity to end the year on a really high note," McIlroy told reporters after the round.
"Going to go out there tomorrow and give it everything I can and hopefully things fall my way and I'm able to stand on that 18th green with both trophies."
Tom McKibbin is four shots off the lead in a two-way tie for seventh after an impressive 67, while Shane Lowry is a further shot back in a tie for ninth.
FINAL LEADERBOARD
McIlroy was one shot off the lead as Saturday's third round dawned at the Jumeirah Golf Estates. He eased into the day with a birdie on the second but then bogeyed the fourth.
However, the 34-year-old bounced back quickly with a birdie on the par-4 fifth and followed that up with further gains on seven and nine.
A bogey on the 10th appeared to mark a slow start to the back nine but McIlroy recovered quickly to string back-to-back birdies together on 11 and 12.
"After the birdie on 12, you know, I had a good chance," McIlroy said. "I hit a really good shot into 13 and just caught the edge. And then 14 and 15 are birdie holes, and not being able to birdie either of those, and only with a 6-iron in my hand going into the last green and not making birdie there, as well.
"A little disappointed how I played those last five holes, but still obviously in a really good position heading into tomorrow."
One person who wasn't disappointed was Hojgaard, who picked up six strokes on the field early with six birdies on the front nine. He was three strokes off the lead entering play on Saturday, then three ahead as he made the turn. And at the par-5 18th, he saved what appeared to be a sure bogey - or worse - with a par-saving putt.
He said he'll approach the final round the same way that he did on Saturday.
"Try not to worry too much of what's ahead of me. Try and play one hole at a time and see if I can get the best score possible out of that hole, just like 18," Hojgaard said.
"So yeah, I think that's my target for tomorrow, try and keep the bogeys away."
Rozner, who entered the round with a one-stroke lead, will enter play on Sunday with some momentum after an eagle at No. 18 kept him atop the leaderboard.
"I think the eagle on (the) last helped me big time. I'm happy with my day overall," Rozner said. "I didn't produce my best golf of the week so far but I was always hanging in there. I managed to hole a couple putts on the back nine that were big for me."
Chasing the leaders on Sunday will be Sweden's Jesper Svensson, whose 68 tied him with Joaquin Niemann of Chile (69) two shots back at 10-under.
Antrim native McKibbin, meanwhile, bogeyed three and 12 but in an otherwise strong Saturday, birdied two, five, seven, nine, 10, 15 and 18.
Lowry had a mixed round as he birdied two, ten, 14 and 16 but bogeyed seven, 13 and 15 to finish with a one-under 71.
Additional reporting: Reuters
