McIlroy Shares Tied Top Spot As He Closes In On Dubai Championship
The Northern Irish golfer secured five birdies in his Saturday performance
DP World Tour Championship Saturday Standings
-13 R McIlroy (Northern Ireland), R Neergaard-Petersen (Denmark); -12 A Ayora (Spain), L Canter (England), M Fitzpatrick (England), T Fleetwood (England), T Hatton (Eng), R Hojgaard (Denmark)
Selected others: -11 L Aberg (Swe), N Hojgaard (Denmark), J Rose (England); -10 S Lowry (Ire), R MacIntyre (Scotland); -8 J Parry (Eng); -4 M Penge (England)
Rory McIlroy secured three birdies over the closing stretch to claim a share of the lead at the tournament finale and close in on a seventh year-end Race to Dubai crown.
The Northern Irishman recorded a 68 in the United Arab Emirates, during a round including five birdies and a bogey to climb to 13-under-par, along with Denmark's 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 Ayora (67) and Danish competitor Rasmus Hojgaard (65).
"All in all, a challenging round," said McIlroy. "Weather conditions were tricky enough yet happy with shooting the score that I did."
McIlroy has a 767-point lead at the top of the annual standings as he goes for his fourth straight Race to Dubai title.
Hatton and compatriot Penge are the sole players who can stop McIlroy from winning the annual championship.
Hatton must win the tournament and have his rival to finish outside the top eight to win it.
"My position is stronger than him [Hatton]," added McIlroy. "My focus is on my game. If I play and play the golf at the level that I'm capable of, particularly on this layout, I'm confident that I'll succeed.
"That would represent a fantastic manner to end the season."
Marco Penge shot an improved 68 on Saturday following rounds of 74 and 70, but looks unlikely to challenge at four-under-par.
