Rory McIlroy Holds Tied Lead While Nears DP World Tour Championship
The Northern Irish golfer secured five birdies in his Saturday performance
Season Finale Third-Round Leaderboard
-13 R McIlroy (Northern Ireland), R Neergaard-Petersen (Den); -12 A Ayora (Spa), L Canter (England), M Fitzpatrick (Eng), T Fleetwood (Eng), T Hatton (England), R Hojgaard (Denmark)
Notable scores: -11 L Aberg (Swe), N Hojgaard (Denmark), J Rose (England); -10 S Lowry (Ire), R MacIntyre (Scotland); -8 J Parry (England); -4 M Penge (England)
The world-class golfer secured three under-par scores in the final five holes to move into the joint lead at the DP World Tour Championship edging closer to his seventh season-ending tour championship crown.
The Northern Irishman recorded a four-under-par 68 in the United Arab Emirates, in a performance featuring five birdies with one bogey to move to 13 under, along with Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
English golfers Laurie Canter (68), Matt Fitzpatrick (66), Tommy Fleetwood (68) and Tyrrell Hatton (67) sit at 12-under-par, together with Spanish player Ayora (67) and Danish competitor Rasmus Hojgaard (65).
"All in all, a challenging round," commented the golfer. "Weather conditions were tricky enough yet happy to shoot my score."
McIlroy has a substantial lead at the top of the season-long rankings as he goes for his fourth straight Race to Dubai crown.
Hatton along with compatriot Marco Penge are the only two who can stop McIlroy from winning the season-long title.
The English golfer must win the tournament and have McIlroy to finish outside 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 perform at the level I can achieve, especially around this layout, I'm confident that I'll succeed.
"It would be an amazing way to end the season."
Marco Penge shot a better 68 on Saturday after scores of 74 and 70, yet appears unlikely to challenge on four under.
