Rory McIlroy Shares Tied Lead While Nears DP World Tour Championship
The Northern Irish golfer secured five under-par scores during his Saturday performance
DP World Tour Championship Third-Round Leaderboard
-13 R McIlroy (NI), R Neergaard-Petersen (Denmark); -12 A Ayora (Spain), L Canter (Eng), M Fitzpatrick (England), T Fleetwood (Eng), T Hatton (Eng), R Hojgaard (Denmark)
Notable scores: -11 L Aberg (Swe), N Hojgaard (Denmark), J Rose (Eng); -10 S Lowry (Ireland), R MacIntyre (Sco); -8 J Parry (Eng); -4 M Penge (Eng)
The world-class golfer secured three under-par scores in the final five holes to move into a share of the lead at the DP World Tour Championship and close in on his seventh year-end Race to Dubai crown.
McIlroy recorded a four-under-par 68 in Dubai, during a round 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), Fleetwood (68) along with Hatton (67) sit at 12 under, along with Spain's Ayora (67) and Danish competitor Rasmus Hojgaard (65).
"All in all, a bit of a battling day," said McIlroy. "The conditions were tricky enough but pleased to shoot the score that I did."
McIlroy holds a 767-point lead at the top of the annual standings as he goes for his fourth straight tour championship crown.
Hatton and fellow Englishman Marco Penge are the only two who can stop McIlroy from claiming the season-long title.
The English golfer needs to win this event and have McIlroy to finish outside tied for eighth to win it.
"My position is stronger compared to him [Hatton]," added McIlroy. "My focus is on my game. If I play and perform at the level that I'm capable of, especially around this golf course, I know that I'll succeed.
"It would be an amazing way to end the season."
Penge shot an improved 68 on Saturday following rounds of 74 and 70, yet appears unlikely to challenge at four-under-par.
