Rory McIlroy Shares Tied Lead While Closes In On DP World Tour Championship
The Northern Irish golfer secured five birdies in his Saturday performance
Season Finale Third-Round Standings
-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 (Den)
Selected others: -11 L Aberg (Sweden), N Hojgaard (Denmark), J Rose (England); -10 S Lowry (Ireland), R MacIntyre (Scotland); -8 J Parry (Eng); -4 M Penge (Eng)
Rory McIlroy sank three birdies over the closing stretch to claim a share of the lead at the DP World Tour Championship and close in on a seventh year-end tour championship title.
McIlroy shot a four-under-par 68 in the United Arab Emirates, in a performance featuring five birdies and a bogey to climb to 13 under, joining Danish golfer Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
English golfers Canter (68), Matt Fitzpatrick (66), Tommy Fleetwood (68) along with Hatton (67) are on 12-under-par, together with Spain's Angel Ayora (67) and Danish competitor Rasmus Hojgaard (65).
"Overall, a challenging round," commented the golfer. "The conditions proved difficult yet pleased with shooting my score."
The 36-year-old has a substantial lead in the season-long rankings as he pursues his fourth straight tour championship title.
Tyrrell Hatton and fellow Englishman Penge are the only two capable of preventing McIlroy from claiming the annual championship.
Hatton needs to win the tournament while requiring McIlroy finish worse than tied for eighth to secure the title.
"My position is stronger than him [Hatton]," stated McIlroy. "I'm focused on myself. If I play and perform at the level I can achieve, particularly on this golf course, I'm confident that I'll be OK.
"That would represent a fantastic manner to end the season."
Penge shot a better 68 on Saturday after scores of 74 and 70, yet appears unlikely to challenge on four under.
