Rory McIlroy Shares Joint Lead As He Nears Dubai Title
The Northern Irish golfer hit five birdies in his third round
DP World Tour Championship Third-Round Standings
-13 R McIlroy (Northern Ireland), R Neergaard-Petersen (Denmark); -12 A Ayora (Spa), L Canter (England), M Fitzpatrick (England), T Fleetwood (England), T Hatton (Eng), R Hojgaard (Denmark)
Selected others: -11 L Aberg (Swe), N Hojgaard (Den), J Rose (England); -10 S Lowry (Ire), R MacIntyre (Sco); -8 J Parry (England); -4 M Penge (Eng)
Rory McIlroy secured three under-par scores in the final five holes to move into the joint lead of the DP World Tour Championship edging closer to a seventh year-end Race to Dubai crown.
McIlroy shot a four-under-par 68 in the United Arab Emirates, during a round including five birdies and a bogey to move to 13-under-par, along with Denmark's Neergaard-Petersen.
England's Canter (68), Matt Fitzpatrick (66), Tommy Fleetwood (68) and Hatton (67) sit at 12-under-par, along with Spanish player Ayora (67) and Danish competitor Rasmus Hojgaard (65).
"Overall, a challenging round," said McIlroy. "Weather conditions were tricky enough yet happy with shooting my score."
McIlroy has a 767-point lead at the top of the season-long rankings as he pursues his fourth consecutive Race to Dubai title.
Tyrrell Hatton along with fellow Englishman Marco Penge are the sole players capable of preventing the Northern Irishman from claiming the annual championship.
Hatton needs to win this event while requiring McIlroy finish worse than the top eight to win it.
"I'm in a better position compared to him [Hatton]," stated McIlroy. "I'm focused on myself. If I play and perform that I know that I'm capable of, especially around this golf course, I know that I'll succeed.
"It would be a fantastic manner to end the season."
Marco Penge carded an improved 68 in round three following rounds of 74 and 70, but looks out of contention at four-under-par.
