McIlroy Shares Tied Top Spot As He Closes In On DP World Tour Championship
The Northern Irish golfer secured five under-par scores in his third round
DP World Tour Championship Saturday Standings
-13 R McIlroy (NI), R Neergaard-Petersen (Den); -12 A Ayora (Spain), L Canter (England), M Fitzpatrick (Eng), T Fleetwood (Eng), T Hatton (England), R Hojgaard (Den)
Selected others: -11 L Aberg (Swe), N Hojgaard (Den), J Rose (Eng); -10 S Lowry (Ireland), R MacIntyre (Scotland); -8 J Parry (Eng); -4 M Penge (Eng)
Rory McIlroy made three under-par scores over the closing stretch to move into the joint lead of the tournament finale edging closer to a seventh year-end Race to Dubai crown.
The Northern Irishman recorded a four-under-par 68 in Dubai, during a round 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) and Tyrrell Hatton (67) sit at 12 under, together with Spain's Angel Ayora (67) and Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard (65).
"Overall, a challenging round," said the golfer. "Weather conditions were tricky enough yet happy with shooting the score that I did."
McIlroy has a 767-point lead in the season-long rankings as he pursues his fourth consecutive tour championship crown.
Hatton along with compatriot Marco Penge are the sole players capable of preventing McIlroy from winning the annual championship.
The English golfer must win this event and have McIlroy finish worse than tied for eighth to secure the title.
"I'm in a better position than him [Hatton]," added the tournament leader. "My focus is on my game. If I go out and perform at the level I can achieve, especially around this layout, I know that I'll succeed.
"That would represent a fantastic manner to end the season."
Marco Penge shot a better 68 in round three after scores of 74 and 70, yet appears unlikely to challenge on four under.
