McIlroy Holds Tied Top Spot While Closes In On Dubai Championship
Rory McIlroy recorded five under-par scores in his Saturday performance
DP World Tour Championship Third-Round Standings
-13 R McIlroy (NI), R Neergaard-Petersen (Denmark); -12 A Ayora (Spa), L Canter (Eng), M Fitzpatrick (England), T Fleetwood (England), T Hatton (England), R Hojgaard (Denmark)
Selected others: -11 L Aberg (Swe), N Hojgaard (Denmark), J Rose (Eng); -10 S Lowry (Ireland), R MacIntyre (Sco); -8 J Parry (England); -4 M Penge (Eng)
Rory McIlroy secured three birdies over the closing stretch to move into a share of the lead at the tournament finale and close in on his seventh year-end Race to Dubai crown.
The Northern Irishman recorded a 68 in Dubai, in a performance including five birdies with one bogey to move to 13-under-par, along with Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
English golfers Canter (68), Fitzpatrick (66), Tommy Fleetwood (68) and Tyrrell Hatton (67) sit at 12 under, along with Spain's Ayora (67) and Denmark's Hojgaard (65).
"Overall, a challenging round," said McIlroy. "The conditions proved difficult yet pleased to shoot the score that I did."
McIlroy holds a substantial lead in the season-long rankings as he pursues his fourth straight Race to Dubai title.
Tyrrell Hatton along with compatriot Marco Penge are the sole players who can stop the Northern Irishman from winning the annual championship.
Hatton must win this event and have McIlroy finish worse than tied for eighth to win it.
"I'm in a better position than him [Hatton]," stated the tournament leader. "My focus is on my game. If I go out and play the golf at the level I can achieve, especially around this layout, I know that I'll succeed.
"It would be an amazing way to end the season."
Penge shot a better 68 on Saturday following rounds of 74 and 70, but looks out of contention at four-under-par.
