McIlroy Shares Tied Top Spot While Nears DP World Tour Title
Rory McIlroy secured five birdies in his third round
DP World Tour Championship Third-Round Leaderboard
-13 R McIlroy (Northern Ireland), R Neergaard-Petersen (Den); -12 A Ayora (Spa), L Canter (England), M Fitzpatrick (Eng), T Fleetwood (England), T Hatton (England), R Hojgaard (Denmark)
Notable scores: -11 L Aberg (Swe), N Hojgaard (Denmark), J Rose (England); -10 S Lowry (Ireland), R MacIntyre (Scotland); -8 J Parry (England); -4 M Penge (Eng)
The world-class golfer secured three under-par scores in the final five holes to claim the joint lead of the DP World Tour Championship and close in on a seventh year-end Race to Dubai title.
McIlroy shot a four-under-par 68 in Dubai, in a performance including five birdies and a bogey to move to 13 under, along with Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
England's Laurie Canter (68), Matt Fitzpatrick (66), Tommy Fleetwood (68) along with Tyrrell Hatton (67) sit at 12 under, together with Spanish player Angel Ayora (67) and Danish competitor Rasmus Hojgaard (65).
"All in all, a challenging round," said the golfer. "The conditions were tricky enough but happy with shooting my score."
McIlroy holds a 767-point lead at the top of the annual standings as he pursues his fourth consecutive Race to Dubai title.
Tyrrell Hatton along with compatriot Penge are the sole players capable of preventing McIlroy from claiming the season-long title.
The English golfer must win the tournament and have McIlroy to finish outside the top eight to win it.
"My position is stronger than him [Hatton]," stated McIlroy. "My focus is on my game. If I play and play the golf at the level I can achieve, particularly on this golf course, I know that I'll succeed.
"It would be a fantastic manner to conclude the year."
Marco Penge carded a better 68 on Saturday after scores of 74 and 70, yet appears unlikely to challenge at four-under-par.
