Rory McIlroy Shares Tied Top Spot As He Nears DP World Tour Championship
The Northern Irish golfer hit five under-par scores in his Saturday performance
Season Finale Third-Round Leaderboard
-13 R McIlroy (NI), R Neergaard-Petersen (Den); -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 (Ireland), R MacIntyre (Sco); -8 J Parry (Eng); -4 M Penge (England)
The world-class golfer sank three birdies over the closing stretch to move into a share of the lead of the DP World Tour Championship and close in on a seventh season-ending tour championship crown.
McIlroy shot a 68 in the United Arab Emirates, during a round including five birdies with one bogey to climb to 13-under-par, joining Danish golfer Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
England's Laurie Canter (68), Fitzpatrick (66), Tommy Fleetwood (68) along with Tyrrell Hatton (67) sit at 12-under-par, along with Spanish player Angel Ayora (67) and Denmark's Hojgaard (65).
"All in all, a challenging round," said the golfer. "Weather conditions proved difficult but happy to shoot the score that I did."
McIlroy has a 767-point lead in the season-long rankings as he pursues his fourth straight Race to Dubai title.
Tyrrell Hatton and compatriot Marco Penge are the sole players who can stop the Northern Irishman from claiming the season-long title.
The English golfer must win the tournament while requiring his rival finish worse than tied for eighth to win it.
"My position is stronger than him [Hatton]," added McIlroy. "I'm focused on myself. If I play and perform at the level that I'm capable of, especially around this golf course, I'm confident that I'll succeed.
"It would be a fantastic manner to end the season."
Marco Penge carded a better 68 on Saturday following rounds of 74 and 70, yet appears unlikely to challenge at four-under-par.
