Rory McIlroy Shares Joint Lead As He Closes In On Dubai Championship
Rory McIlroy secured five birdies during his Saturday performance
Season Finale Saturday Leaderboard
-13 R McIlroy (Northern Ireland), R Neergaard-Petersen (Den); -12 A Ayora (Spain), L Canter (Eng), M Fitzpatrick (England), T Fleetwood (Eng), T Hatton (England), R Hojgaard (Denmark)
Selected others: -11 L Aberg (Sweden), N Hojgaard (Den), J Rose (Eng); -10 S Lowry (Ireland), R MacIntyre (Scotland); -8 J Parry (Eng); -4 M Penge (Eng)
Rory McIlroy secured three under-par scores in the final five holes to claim the joint lead at the DP World Tour Championship and close in on his seventh season-ending Race to Dubai crown.
McIlroy shot a four-under-par 68 in Dubai, in a performance including five birdies and a bogey to climb to 13 under, joining Denmark's Neergaard-Petersen.
English golfers Laurie Canter (68), Matt Fitzpatrick (66), Tommy Fleetwood (68) and Hatton (67) are on 12 under, together with Spain's Ayora (67) and Danish competitor Rasmus Hojgaard (65).
"All in all, a challenging round," said the golfer. "The conditions were tricky enough yet happy with shooting the score that I did."
McIlroy has a 767-point lead at the top of the season-long rankings as he pursues his fourth straight Race to Dubai crown.
Tyrrell Hatton along with fellow Englishman Penge are the only two capable of preventing the Northern Irishman from winning the annual championship.
Hatton must win the tournament while requiring McIlroy finish worse than tied for eighth to secure the title.
"I'm in a better position than him [Hatton]," added McIlroy. "My focus is on my game. If I go out and play the golf that I know that I'm capable of, particularly on this layout, I'm confident that I'll succeed.
"It would be a fantastic manner to conclude the year."
Penge shot an improved 68 on Saturday after scores of 74 and 70, but looks unlikely to challenge on four under.
