Rory McIlroy Holds Tied Lead While Nears DP World Tour Championship
Rory McIlroy secured five birdies in his Saturday performance
DP World Tour Championship Saturday Standings
-13 R McIlroy (NI), R Neergaard-Petersen (Denmark); -12 A Ayora (Spa), L Canter (Eng), M Fitzpatrick (Eng), T Fleetwood (England), 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 (England); -4 M Penge (Eng)
Rory McIlroy secured three birdies over the closing stretch to move into the joint lead of the DP World Tour Championship edging closer to a seventh year-end Race to Dubai crown.
The Northern Irishman shot a 68 in the United Arab Emirates, in a performance including five birdies and a bogey to move to 13 under, along with Danish golfer Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
England's Canter (68), Fitzpatrick (66), Tommy Fleetwood (68) and Hatton (67) sit at 12 under, together with Spanish player Angel Ayora (67) and Danish competitor Rasmus Hojgaard (65).
"All in all, a challenging round," said McIlroy. "Weather conditions were tricky enough but pleased with shooting 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 Race to Dubai title.
Tyrrell Hatton and compatriot Marco Penge are the only two capable of preventing McIlroy from claiming the annual championship.
Hatton needs to win the tournament while requiring McIlroy to finish outside the top eight to secure the title.
"I'm in a better position compared to him [Hatton]," stated McIlroy. "I'm focused on myself. If I go out and perform that I know that I'm capable of, especially around this layout, I know that I'll succeed.
"That would represent a fantastic manner to conclude the year."
Marco Penge carded a better 68 in round three following rounds of 74 and 70, but looks out of contention at four-under-par.
