McIlroy Holds Joint Lead While Closes In On DP World Tour Championship
The Northern Irish golfer hit five under-par scores in his Saturday performance
DP World Tour Championship Third-Round Leaderboard
-13 R McIlroy (NI), R Neergaard-Petersen (Denmark); -12 A Ayora (Spa), L Canter (England), M Fitzpatrick (Eng), T Fleetwood (Eng), T Hatton (England), R Hojgaard (Denmark)
Selected others: -11 L Aberg (Sweden), N Hojgaard (Den), J Rose (England); -10 S Lowry (Ire), R MacIntyre (Scotland); -8 J Parry (Eng); -4 M Penge (Eng)
The world-class golfer made three under-par scores over the closing stretch to move into the joint lead of the DP World Tour Championship and close in on his seventh season-ending tour championship crown.
The Northern Irishman recorded a 68 in the United Arab Emirates, in a performance featuring five birdies and a bogey to climb to 13-under-par, along with Danish golfer Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
English golfers Laurie Canter (68), Fitzpatrick (66), Tommy Fleetwood (68) along with Tyrrell Hatton (67) sit at 12 under, along with Spain's Ayora (67) and Denmark's Hojgaard (65).
"All in all, a bit of a battling day," said the golfer. "The conditions were tricky enough yet happy to shoot my score."
McIlroy holds a 767-point lead in the season-long rankings as he pursues his fourth straight Race to Dubai crown.
Tyrrell Hatton along with fellow Englishman Penge are the only two who can stop the Northern Irishman from winning the season-long title.
The English golfer must win the tournament and have McIlroy finish worse than tied for eighth to secure the title.
"My position is stronger compared to him [Hatton]," added McIlroy. "My focus is on my game. If I go out and perform at the level I can achieve, particularly on this layout, I'm confident that I'll be OK.
"That would represent an amazing way to conclude the year."
Penge carded a better 68 in round three following rounds of 74 and 70, but looks out of contention at four-under-par.
